88 BAITS, AND THEIR USE. 



cow's durg, old dunghills, &c., and is a capital bait for 

 most kinds of fish. 



The marsh or meadow worm is a good bait for trout, 

 grayling, perch, bream, and gudgeons. 



I need hardly say, that the choice and proper use of 

 your bait are of the first importance in angling. Lack 

 of judgment or skill here will be more or less fatal to 

 your success. Let me, then, transcribe Mr. Elaine's 

 judicious remarks on the use of worms: 



" All earthworms are found to be more alluring to 

 fish after they have undergone an artificial method of 

 treatment, the knowledge of which becomes, therefore, 

 important to the angler. In large and much-fished 

 rivers, the inhabitants, like those of cultivated and 

 luxurious cities, become satiated with common food. 

 In the Thames, the Lea, the Severn, and the Wye, but 

 particularly the two former, waggon- loads of bait are 

 annually added to the usual alimentary products of the 

 river ; thus, the well-fed fish require to have their 

 appetites pampered as much as the accomplished 

 epicure, who looks with apathy on the meat of the 

 shambles, but brightens at the prospect of turtle and 

 venison. So the oft-fed fish require that the worm be 

 cleansed of all dross, and that its dyes be heightened 

 by artificial scourings; thus proving, that although the 

 voracious cod, to allay the cravings of his stomach, 

 will swallow the plumb-lead instead of the bait, yet 

 that, in matters of mere taste, fish are not without a 

 decided preference as to the nature and state of their 

 food. Worms are extremely voracious, and consume 

 vast quantities of both animal and vegetable substances; 

 " for they, like ourselves, are omnivorous. . . . When 

 worms are first taken, they are usually gross with in- 



