IN BAR-HARBOURS. 147 



feature in live bait fishing, either at sea or in harbour, for with- 

 out them little or nothing can be done, simply because no 

 efficient substitute has been found in which the Sand-Eels can 

 be preserved alive. Many persons imagine they can keep sea- 

 fish alive in a tin, or bucket, or bait kettle, without suspending 

 it in the water, but there can be no greater delusion, for the 

 oxygen therein contained soon becomes exhausted, causing the 

 fish either to die at once, or to get so faint and weak that there 

 is no vigour, upon which their attractiveness depends, left in 

 them. The reader will find this basket illustrated and described 

 at fig. 19, p. 66, together with the method of manufacture. 

 The Sand-Eels are best and most lively when caught in a seine 

 net (see fig. 70, p. 229) ; but if no such net can be met with, 

 resort must be had to raking or scraping, as it is termed. 

 They suffer, however, so much by this method of capture, that 

 they are but little use unless fished with the same day as caught, 

 for they have to be snatched up in the hand, which is decidedly 

 injurious to them. The scraper is of the form of a hoe, and 

 the iron plate should be 10 inches long by 7 inches wide, with 

 a handle 2 feet 6 inches long made out of a mop or brush 

 stick. The method to be observed, when scraping, is as 

 follows, and should be strictly adhered to if you desire sport. 

 Proceed to the sands just before low water, being provided 

 with a scraper and Sand-Eel basket. If there is any loose 

 gravelly sand near the edge of the water, dig there, first taking 

 care not to trample on any portion of the sand you are about 

 to dig, for if it be trampled on the Sand- Eels will be alarmed, 

 and depart speedily from your vicinity. Place the basket in 

 water four or five inches deep, and put the Sand- Eels into it as 

 soon as captured. If you find it necessary to dig at twenty yards 

 from the water's edge, which is sometimes the case, a pot or 

 bailer should be taken for the purpose full of water, and when 

 half a dozen baits have been procured, run over and empty 

 them into the basket. An ordinary paint-pot is a convenient 

 size for this purpose, supposing it has not been used, or an 

 Australian 6-pound meat tin, with a bit of galvanized wire 

 across the top for a handle. When scraping it will be found 

 a good plan to dig a trench in the form of a circle, 10 to 15 



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