ANGLING WITH WORM FOR TROUT. 139 



where the soil is light and sandy, is of a bright 

 colour. On digging any earth in dry weather, it is 

 found rolled together resembling a mulberry or a 

 cherry. When got in this state, they may be fished 

 with as soon as gathered ; yet, in general, to have 

 them in proper order, they ought to be kept some 

 time before being used, a few days at least, amongst 

 rnoss, and the moss occasionally changed. If kept 

 over three weeks or a month, they require to be fed 

 with a little cream or sweet milk, and brick dust or 

 red clay,* but always replaced into moss a day or 

 twobsfore being used, which renders themclean 

 and tough. 



Although trout may be taken with worm in any 

 state of water, yet the most proper time is in the 

 very lowest and clearest state of the river, from the 

 end of May to the end of July ; and the best hours 



* We have no faith in either sweet milk, brick dust, or red clay, as 

 food or colouring matter for worms. Abundance of fresh moss 

 (Scottice fog) will keep them fresh and clear for months ; but a few 

 drops of water should now and then be sprinkled over it, and it should 

 be frequently changed. The worms are always ready for angling 

 with when kept in this way, and their natural colour, when scoured 

 of the clay within them, is reddish. They should be kept in some 

 very cool place, and the dead and sickly worms removed daily. We 

 are in the habit of keeping them in a wooden box sunk in our gar- 

 den, the box of course rainproof; and we have on many occasions 

 astonished our friends with a sight of many hundreds of worms all 

 fresh and clean in the scorching July. Tackle-makers in large towns 

 supply worms at reasonable rates, and the worms thus sold are gen- 

 erally in prime condition for angling with. [ErB.J 



