46 ANGLING. 



speak of bottom-fishing for trout, I shall mention two 01 

 thre;? ot-Ler plans of worm-baiting ; but the young angler 

 will find the above sufficiently alluring for his purpose. 



CHAPTER VL 

 THE BOTTOM-FISHEE'S BAIT TABLE. 



THOSE baits are the best and the most killing which are 

 natural to the season. Children don't look for cherries on 

 the trees in February, and fish seem to know that seed 

 and grain ought not to be coming down the stream in 

 April. Sometimes a strange and extempore bait will suc- 

 ceed when an ordinary one will not ; but it is the excep- 

 tion, not the rule, and depends for success on the caprice 

 or gluttonous instinct of the fish, which may vary day by day, 

 according as it is surfeited or otherwise by its ordinary food. 

 1. "Worms stand first in the bottom-fisher's list, and of 

 these the dew, twatchel, or lobworm is the largest, and the best 

 bottom bait for large barbel, greyling, perch, trout, bream, 

 or eels, nay, even the lordly salmon does not disdain to take 

 one sometimes. You may find them in the gardens or 

 in the fields by digging at any time ; but they may be 

 found by thousands at night, or in the early morning, in 

 fields and meadows after a fall of heavy dew or rain. It 

 seems a ridiculous, but none the less a good plan, to search 

 for them by the light of a lantern. In dry weather they 

 sink deep into the earth; but in that case, if you throw a 

 quantity of wet straw on the surface of the ground they 

 will come out. A strong solution of salt and water, or 



