BAIT FISHING. 51 



a trout, and without which he will scarcely be induced 

 either to smell or nibble. It is necessary, therefore, so 

 to append the bait as to preserve to it those expressive 

 motions and generic attitudes which are most taking to 

 the cunning perceptions of fish. In doing so, select 

 such worms as are liveliest and free from knots. If of 

 a large kind, one will be quite sufficient to bait with, 

 although two of moderate size are preferable. Hold- 

 ing the worm betwixt the fore-finger and thumb of your 

 left hand, insert the hook, which is retained in the 

 right, at about one-fourth of its whole length's distance 

 from the head of the reptile, and bring it out near the tail. 

 The second wornj should be appended in the same 

 manner, the first being previously drawn up over the 

 shank of the hook, and brought down again upon it, 

 so as to form one bait. Some anglers insert the worm 

 from the tail upwards, but this mode of applying it is 

 erroneous, at least it possesses no direct advantages ; 

 on the contrary, the reptile is thereby apt to get disen- 

 gaged, or at any rate to overt wist and separate itself. 

 The manner of baiting described, leaves the barb of 

 the hook bare, a matter to be attended to more in some 

 waters and states of water than others ; for among shy 

 trout and clear streams, even the minutest portion of 

 the hook, when visible, will frequently occasion dis- 

 trust; it is therefore necessary at times to conceal care- 

 fully your wire, and allow no measure of it to,, project; 

 still, in general, this is a useless piece of caution, and 

 prevents the proper striking of the fish. In angling 

 with the worm, it is of little consequence whether you 

 do so moving up or down the stream, provided, when 

 adopting the latter plan, you employ a short line ; for 

 with a long one it is impossible to hook the trout aptly, 

 unless you stand below them. 



Some anglers permit their worm to be carried for* 



