ARTIFICIAL TREATMENT OF WORMS. 231 



decided superiority in the condition of their baits, 

 which will purge from all impurity, and become 

 beautifully bright and pellucid. The pan should 

 be large, or the worms will not live, whereas, 

 when they have good room, clean, moist moss, 

 and delicate handling, they will go on from year 

 to year." Not so long, in my opinion, without a 

 layer of nice moist earth at the bottom of the pan 

 or wooden tub. The worms should be frequently 

 examined, and the weak and sickly ones extracted 

 and thrown away. 



The following remarks touching worms by 

 Mr. Elaine are interesting and important. Take 

 notice that he advises that the substances you 

 place them in for preservation should not be too 

 moist, and he gives you excellent reasons. He 

 says, " All earth-worms are found to be more 

 alluring to fish after they have undergone an 

 artificial method of treatment, the knowledge of 

 which, therefore, becomes important to the angler. 

 In large and much-fished rivers (and what large 

 English rivers are not much fished in these days ?) 

 the inhabitants, like those of cultivated and luxu- 

 rious cities, become satiated with common food. 

 In the Thames, the Lea, the Severn, and the 

 Wye, &c., but particularly the two former, 

 waggon loads of bait are annually added to the 

 usual alimentary products of the river ; thus the 

 well-fed fish require to have their appetites pam- 

 Q 4 



