WORM FISHING. 119 



is so much softer in the mouth, that it answers, 

 I think, the best of all plans, when you cannot 

 procure the natural bait. Any good fishing- 

 tackle shop will furnish these articles, and 

 therefore it would be a waste of time, and of 

 paper to give a minute description of them." 



WORM-FISHING. 



"You must not every worm promiscuous use; 

 Judgment will tell the proper bait to chuse ; 

 The worm that draws a long immod'rate size 

 The Trout abhors, and the rank morsel flies ; 

 And if too small, the naked fraud's in sight, 

 And fear forbids, while hunger does invite. 

 Those baits will best reward the fisher's pains, 

 Whose polish'd tails a shining yellow stains ; 

 Cleanse them from filth, to give a tempting gloss, 

 Cherish the sullied reptile race with moss; 

 Amid the verdant bed they twine, they toil, 

 And from their bodies wipe their native soil." 



day. 



WORM-FISHING begins early in February, 

 and is good throughout the year. During 

 spring, worms may be used any time of the day ; 

 when the summer is advanced, only early in the 

 morning and late in the evening ; and in the au- 

 tumn it may again be used all day ; if the rivers 

 are disturbed, this is the only bait that can be 

 used at all. The necessary tackle for worm- 

 fishing is described on page 24; and, as this 

 bait is most killing: in rapid streams, the lead 

 should be sufficiently heavy to keep the bait on 

 the ground. A float is quite unnecessary un- 



