132 ON ANGLING WITH THE WORM. 



because they have not the hook in their mouth, but 

 merely bite some part of the worm. In such cir- 

 cumstances three or four small hooks about Xo. 9 

 or 10 of Bartlett's, or what are perhaps even better, 

 three of Hutchinson and Son's sneck-bent hooks, 

 No. 3 or 4, tied to one thread of gut, will be found 

 much more effective than a single hook. 



The accompanying illustration shows the tackle 



and the method of baiting it, which requires no 

 explanation. 



The advantages of this tackle are that a trout 

 can hardly take hold of the worm at all without having 

 one of the hooks in its mouth ; that the worm lives 

 much longer, and being free to wriggle itself into 

 any shape, is more natural-looking and consequently 

 enticing; and lastly, that it is much more easily 

 baited, particularly if the worms are fresh. Its dis- 

 advantages are that it is more difficult to extricate 

 from the trout's mouth ; that it requires to be baited 

 afresh every bite ; and that the exposure of so many 

 hooks is calculated to scare away some trout that 

 would otherwise take the bait. But, upon the whole, 

 the advantages preponderate considerably over the dis- 

 advantages, particularly when trout are biting shy. 



