56 BAIT AND FLY FISHING. 



long needle through the worm or minnow, 

 the needle being previously cut on one side 

 in the upper part of the eye to take in the 

 loop through the baits that join the catch 

 upon the line. The fisher should keep three 

 of them one at hand and two spare ones 

 in his book. 



To give a full account of bait fishing as 

 applied to every kind of fresh water fish, 

 would occupy more space than can be de- 

 voted to it in this little volume. I will only 

 therefore, "attempt a short general sketch. 

 I will begin with the eel. 



It is the opinion of a great many fishers, 

 that minnows or worms are the best bait, on 

 a Limerick hook. Some prefer a strong 

 needle an inch and three-quarters long ; they 

 put the gimp or gut through the eye of the 

 needle, bring up both ends and tie them 

 hard in the middle with a silk thread coated 

 with resin. They then insert the needle 

 with the eye foremost into the worm until 

 it projects three-quarters of an inch over 

 the point of the needle ; when the eel gorges 

 the bait, in drawing it back the point comes 

 across the gullet. But there is another and 



