BAIT FISHING. 49 



and decayed substances, vegetable as well as animal. 

 Four or five different varieties are known in this coun- 

 try ; among which we find the large lob or dew worm, 

 an excellent bait for salmon and sea trout. These 

 may be picked up in any garden, by a ready hand, dur- 

 ing the summer twilights, when they crawl out upon 

 the surface in search of food. They are a beautiful 

 and subtle worm, and require to be seized with some 

 address. Secondly, we have the common earth worm, a 

 smaller and more inactive sort. Thirdly, the brandling, 

 a -beautifully streaked variety, found only in very rich 

 and warm soils, among hot beds, near common sewers, 

 and at the side of tan pits ; the red worm also breeds 

 along with it, and both are highly esteemed by anglers. 

 We, however, reckon the brandling a soft bait, and 

 disagreeable to handle, being filled with a yellow liquid, 

 which issues out on the slightest pressure. This rep- 

 tile generates with wonderful rapidity ; a dozen or two 

 of them, in the course of a few days, when placed 

 among warm manure, sufficient in quantity, will pro- 

 duce many myriads, as we have witnessed. The red 

 worm is certainly superior as a bait, although some- 

 what small and clear. After these may be mentioned 

 a greenish reptile, the favourite food of many trout, yet 

 not often angled with. It resembles the slug in its 

 movements, and seldom grows to a large size. 



Worms may be dug up with a spade, or grape (a 

 three-pronged instrument), such as is used for raising 

 potatoes. We, however, prefer another method of 

 taking them. Insert a thickish stick or dibble into the 

 soil, eight or ten inches deep. Move it backwards and 

 forwards with tolerable quickness, so as to agitate the 

 earth round about. After a minute or so, every worm 

 within the circle of agitation, which may extend seve- 

 ral feet, will appear at the surface. The reason of 



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