HOW TO MAKE COURGES. 67 



Of these baskets the most useful size is 2 feet in length, 

 and 7 inches in diameter, and certainly nothing can be better 

 adapted for the end intended, as it is very light, and the water 

 flows easily through it, whilst from its shape it offers less 

 resistance in passing through the water than any other which 

 could be devised. It will be found equally useful as a live-bait 

 cage for Shrimps, Prawns, other Crustacea, and small fish in 

 general ; it might also be adopted for the same purpose for live- 

 bait in Jack or Perch-fishing on a river or lake. In France these 

 contrivances are made of wood; I have tried them, but the 

 Sand-Eels do not live nearly as long as in the wicker ' Courge.' 



How to make Courses or Sand-Eel Baskets. Procure 

 some very fine small osiers or withies, and soak them a day 

 or two until they are sufficiently supple for weaving, also some 

 others for the framework ^ inch in thickness, and 2 feet in 

 length. Get two hoops of any light and flexible wood of 

 7 inches diameter, and lash with wax-ends or sail-twine seven of 

 the rods to the outside of one of the hoops, at equal intervals 

 of its circumference, and at 3 inches on one side of the middle 

 of the rods ; now insert the second hoop at the distance of 

 6 inches from the first, and secure it as before. The ends must 

 then be brought together, and, being lashed, will form the 

 figure of two cones joined at the base. Commence weaving at 

 one of the ends, opening the rods by aid of a small marline- 

 spike or pricker, and having done about 4 inches, proceed in 

 like manner with the other end, when the increasing width 

 between the rods will necessitate the insertion of other rods, 

 which are to be secured as at first directed. Continue weaving 

 from either side until within 3 inches of the middle of the 

 rods, leaving here an unwoven space about 6 inches in length 

 and 4 in breadth to pour the Sand-Eels into the basket. 

 This aperture must be closed by an accurately fitting piece 

 of cork when in use. A rod or two will cross the hole, which 

 must be cut off to admit the cork, and the two rods forming 

 the edges of the hole longitudinally must have the osiers 

 doubled round them and the ends of these osiers tucked in. 



The cork should be a good thick piece J of an inch larger 

 than the hole, and by taking off half its thickness to this width, 



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