THE DltlFFIELD ANGLER. 97 



whicli will keep them together ; fish half a 

 foot from the bottom, unless the mud be so 

 deep as to cover the balls when thrown in ; in 

 which case keep to the former way, and bait 

 the hole with bits of lob-worms and gentles. 



When you have a bite, allow some time 

 before you strike : they will take several 

 baits, but the best of all is the small red 

 worm taken out of rotten tan, and used 

 without any scouring ; though they will at 

 times take the gentle, wasp, maggot, and 

 green worm from the boughs of trees; they 

 generally come out to feed several times in 

 the day, but their best time of biting is late 

 and early ; and the best months for catching 

 them are August and September, if the 

 weather proves warm. When you take any 

 out of muddy places, keep them alive for 

 some time in a tub of water, where they 

 will cleanse themselves from that muddy 

 quality to which they are subject, and be 

 much better for the table. 



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