134 ON ANGLING WITH THE WORM. 



that can be urged against the four hooks was likely 

 to tell with full force ; added to which, the stones, 

 as is frequently the case after long-continued dry 

 weather, were covered with green slimy vegetable 

 matter, which stuck to the small hooks whenever 

 they came in contact with it, and occasioned con- 

 siderable loss of time. 



A brother of the writer made the same trial 

 with the same result. He also observed that with 

 the tackle he got fewer trout, but larger ones, which 

 seems surprising, but may be accounted for by sup- 

 posing that though some trout had been alarmed by 

 the exposure of the hooks, the lively and natural 

 appearance of the worm had been more attractive to 

 large trout. Whether or not every angler will meet 

 with the same result, entirely depends upon his 

 capabilities for baiting and managing the respective 

 tackles; but probably all really good anglers will 

 catch more weight of trout with the three or four 

 small hooks than with the one large one ; and since 

 we first introduced it to the attention of anglers four 

 years ago, it has come into very general use. 



Whatever kind of hooks the angler is using, he 

 should pay great attention to the state of his worm, 

 and if it has become maimed or water-logged, change 

 it, as a lively worm is more enticing than a dead one. 



Split shot to regulate the rate of the worm 

 down stream are usually considered indispensable 

 by the angler ; but, except on rare occasions, im- 

 peding the motion of the worm is objectionable, and 



