BAITS, AND THEIR USE. 91 



Flag-worms, which are found amongst flags, in pits, 

 or ponds. 



Caterpillars, cabbage-worms, &c., are liked by trout, 

 chub, roach, and dace. 



In putting on the bait, the great thing is to make it 

 secure, and to hide the hook. In baiting with worms, 

 the hook should be passed in close to the top of the 

 head, and be carried carefully down, to within a 

 quarter of an inch of the tail. If you bait with only 

 half a worm, let it be the tail end, the hook being 

 inserted at the thick end. 



When you bait with a gentle, the hook should be 

 passed in at one end, and brought out at the other; 

 and then the point should be drawn back again, just 

 sufficient to hide it. 



Salmon-spawn is a superior bait for trout, chub, 

 roach, &c., but it is not so easy to be got as other 

 baits are. To prepare it for keeping and for use, 

 having obtained, say, a pound of it, about September or 

 October, put it into hot water, and having boiled it for 

 about ten minutes, wash away all the blood, pieces of 

 skin, and other refuse, rinse it well with cold water, 

 and put it into a bag or cloth, and hang it up to dry. 

 When dried, take two ounces of salt, and a quarter of 

 an ounce of pounded saltpetre, and mix it up with the 

 spawn, after which, it should be spread out on a dish 

 or board before the fire, until it becomes quite stiff. 

 Then put it into jars or gallipots, pouring over the top 

 of each melted mutton-suet, and covering with a 

 bladder. 



Paste baits are much used, especially in still, quiet 

 waters, with a small hook and a quill float. They are 



