232 WHEN FISH AKE EPICURES. 



pered as much as the accomplished epicure, who 

 looks with apathy on the meat of the shambles, 

 but brightens at the prospect of turtle and veni- 

 son ; so the oft-fed fish require that the worm be 

 cleansed of all* dross, and that its dyes be height- 

 ened by artificial scourings, thus proving, that 

 although the voracious cod, to allay the cravings 

 of his stomach,, will swallow the plumb-lead in- 

 stead of the bait, yet that in matters of mere taste 

 fish are not without a decided preference as to the 

 nature and state of their food. Worms are ex- 

 tremely voracious, and consume vast quantities 

 of both animal and vegetable substances; for 

 they, like ourselves, are omnivorous. Vegetable 

 matter they gain from the surface of the earth ; 

 animal matter is received by taking in earth itself, 

 which is saturated with animal matter, living and 

 dead. When worms are first taken they are 

 usually gross with intestinal matter, and soft by 

 the increased secretions of their bodies. By purg- 

 ing them from the earth they contain they are 

 rendered more bright, and on being cleansed from 

 all feculances they prove much more palatable to 

 the fish. As this process of cleansing promotes 

 absorption of superfluous moisture, they also be- 

 come thereby firm, or, as it is termed, tough, 

 which is of much consequence to the fisherman, 

 since in this state they are more readily put on 

 the hook and retained on it. 



