260 STALE BREAD PASTE. 



angler strikes at a fish, the experienced roach- 

 fisher considers to be essential. In chub-fishing, 

 on the contrary, it forms a valuable property in 

 this paste, as a larger piece will adhere to a larger 

 hook without being washed off' as the brittle stale 

 bread paste would be. It is also more useful than 

 the latter paste for taking dace in the Thames, 

 as well as the streamy parts of all other dace 

 rivers. This paste is convenient from the quick- 

 ness with which it is made at home, or by the 

 river side. 



Stale bread paste is made of bread one day, or 

 at most only two days' old. In the latter case 

 the bread should be taken from the centre of the 

 loaf. First clip it momentarily in clean water, and 

 instantly squeeze it as dry as possible ; then placing 

 it in the palm of one hand, bruise it with the 

 knuckles and tops of the fingers of the other for 

 about twenty minutes, when it will have arrived 

 at the fitting consistence. It is well to observe, 

 that as all bread pastes have a tendency to become 

 quickly sour, particularly if wetted, it is advi- 

 sable, should the angler have far to travel, that he 

 carry the bread with him and make the paste by 

 the river side, in order to prevent it from becom- 

 ing hard or sour. This paste is the best winter 

 bait for roach, and the best of pastes at all times 

 for that fish, since you can fix it on the smallest 

 sized hook, and its very little tenacity scarcely 



