132 TROUT FISHING 



always considered him a nuisance, as tlie boys who 

 collect these beetles for me are constantly making 

 mistakes, and putting the wrong ones into the 

 tin. When you get them on your hook, or rather 

 into the water, they look light-coloured, almost 

 white are so soft that their bodies break up, 

 and they seem to be frightful rather than en- 

 ticing to the trout. . The most simple mode of 

 carrying the cow- dung beetle I have found to be 

 in a common half-pound gunpowder tin, the sides 

 of which I perforate with a number of small holes. 

 They will live for many days, but should, if kept, 

 be shaken out or put in some larger case, where 

 they can get more air than they possibly can 

 obtain when huddled together in a small space. 

 Fern webs are difficult to keep alive any length 

 of time : the best way of keeping them is to put 

 them into a large open case with plenty of fresh 

 green fern leaves, or leaves from nut bushes, 

 frequently renewed, and cover them with a well- 

 perforated tin plate. When dead neither of these 

 insects are useful, as the head separates, on the 

 least touch, from the body. 



The rod I use for these baits is the same I re- 

 commend for artificial fly-fishing in the Bray and 

 similar streams. It maybe a degree or so stiffer 

 and stronger, as it will have rough work to do, 

 which a very delicate rod will not stand. The 

 collar should be strong, and not shorter than six 

 links of gut. The hook which is best adapted 

 for these beetles is a Limerick, because, from its 

 peculiar bend, the beetles lie on the shank of the 



