FLY-FISHING. 491 



fore the fire or in the sun, and when it becomes stiff pot it down." It 

 is better to use several small pots than one large one, since by letting 

 in the air it is liable to damage. Each pot should have some melted 

 mutton suet run over the roe, and be closely tied over with bladder. 

 If put into a dry place it will keep good for a couple of years." When 

 you use this bait mould it up in your fingers. Use a little, just suffi- 

 cient to fill up the hollow of the hook, and hide the steel, placing two 

 or three sound grains of it on the point of the hooks. This bait is 

 most deadly when used in a flooded river, either as the water rises at 

 its height or as it clears off. 



Of Minnow, in its common acceptation, there are three sorts the 

 Roach, the Dace or Shiner, and the Stone Loach. The first lives 

 the longest ; the Shiner shows most while it lives, and the Stone 

 Loach is as hardy, perhaps, as the first, but is not so plump-looking a 

 bait. Young Bass, Pike, Perch, &c., are sometimes used, but are not 

 nearly so good as any of the three above mentioned. 



These are generally secured by putting the hook in the under lip 

 and out of the nostril. If this be nicely done, they will live a long 

 time. This is supposing you use only a single hook which, however, 

 I consider the best. 



NATURAL BAIT TACKLE. 



If you use the Artificial Minnow tackle, you kill your bait immedi- 

 ately. One small hook for natural bait is made to travel up and down 

 by two small loops of gut whipped on at a and b. This is hooked into 

 the fish's lips, and one of the three hooks at c is stuck through the 

 back by the dorsal fin. 



Need I say how to put on a worm ? I fear I must. To do it artis- 

 tically, you must begin at the head and work it on to your hook, if 

 not too large, without showing the steel at any point ; if it be, let a 

 part hang down at the bottom of the hook, and a little of the tail may 

 hang over as a tit-bit. The little red worm, called Brandling, is the 

 best found among old cow-dung manure. Worms are better kept 

 awhile in moss moistened with a little cream. 



