WHIFFING. 85 



above the flattened top of the hook to keep the bait straight 

 on the hook in a naturally swimming position. If small Eels 

 are not procurable, and you should have .taken one of a foot 

 or 15 inches in length, cut off 6 or 7 inches of the tail part, and 

 having drawn back the skin | of an inch, cut off the flesh and 

 backbone thus far, then drawing the skin back again, tie it 

 round with a bit of thread after having placed it on the hook 



(fig- 3)- 



In Ireland it is customary to turn the skin back over the 

 lashing, and then sew it with needle and thread to the skin 



FIG. 31. Rag- Worm when the fish are shy. 



behind the lashing. Eels are so tough that a couple or three 

 will last some hours light coloured are best ; if dark, skin 

 and soak them a few hours in milk. Lob or large Earth- 

 Worms, as well as Lug- Worms, are kept in position by the 

 small hook, after having brought out the larger one part way 

 down, as here shown (fig. 32), the point of the larger to be 

 entered \ of an inch below the head of the worm. If the worm 

 should turn white before you take a fish, put on a fresh one. 



FIG. 32. Earth-Worm baited for Whiffing. 



These worms are by no means equal to the other baits 

 enumerated, and are only to be used in the absence of better ; 

 that they will take both Whiting-Pollack as well as Mackerel I 

 have frequently proved, and on one occasion, with a dozen 

 Earth-Worms and one white fly, I took from four to five dozen 

 Whiting- Pollack, and frequently three or four with the same 

 worm, being careful not to spoil the bait in unhooking the fish. 

 It is the most economical way of baiting I have ever met with. 



The small hook keeps the bait from sliding down on the 



