134 ANGLING WITH WORM FOR SALMON. 



along the pathway sides, or on old leas, where. 

 on the least disturbance or tread of foot, they sink 

 into their respective holes in an instant. Fishers 

 generally gather them in candle light, stealing softly 

 along, and seizing them before they can escape. 

 When required in cold seasons of the year, they are 

 dug from the earth in certain places where found 

 in greatest plenty. They are kept in moss for some 

 days previous to being used ; and if long kept require 

 to be fed with a little cream or sweet milk, and red 

 earth or brick dust.* 



Anglers differ in their choice regarding the size of 

 the two hooks proper to be used for this sort of bait, 

 but those most generally preferred on the Tweed are 

 large sizes, Nos. 18, 19, or 20 of Adlington's the 

 other Nos. 15 or 16. As they require to be shorter 

 in the shank for this purpose than for the fly, it is 

 requisite to break a piece from the shank of each. 

 The larger one is tied to the end of the gut, the other 

 as much farther up on the gut as to allow its point 

 to be turned round to the shank of the first hook, 



* The brick dust for worms, we should think, must now be an ex- 

 ploded notion. It has no effect whatever on the colour of the worms. 

 It is too dry to be swallowed by them, and this is the only method 

 by which the clav could redden them ; and we know to our cost that 

 it destroys them if kept anything long amongst it. The dust being too 

 dry for the worms, is the means of taking the sliminess too quickly 

 off, thereby causing, first numbness and then death.- [Ecu.] 



