192 THE LAMPERN OR LESSER LAMPREY. 



more attractive. An excellent method of procuring them is to 

 throw a bundle of osiers or withes into a muddy pit in a brook, 

 drain, or tidal pond, when, after it has remained a few days, 

 you will generally find in it a number of small Eels, fit for your 

 purpose. If you require any at a short notice, take a fine 

 Shrimp-net, and look in a harbour, tidal river, or small brook, 

 for flat stones of a moderate size, and take up the stone in the 

 net, when you will frequently have one or two Eels with it. 

 You may often also procure small Eels by turning up the stones 

 in a small brook, and catching them with a three-pronged 

 kitchen dinner-fork, or nipping them with a pair of old notched 

 scissors. 



THE LAMPERN OR LESSER LAMPREY. 



(Petromyzon fluviatilis. ) 



The Lesser or River Lamprey is usually from 7 to 10 inches 

 long, and is so called to distinguish it from the Lamprey Eel, 

 which attains the size of three or four pounds. They are very 

 numerous in many English rivers and small brooks, where, 

 during March and April, I have found them twenty or more 

 together sticking to a stone, like leeches, from which circum- 

 stance they derive their name. They are good bait for Whiting- 

 Pollack, better than Eels, as they are very much brighter under 

 the belly. (See p. 82, fig. 26.) 



They are useful cut in two for night-lines for large Eels, as 

 is also the Pride or Blind Lamprey, and large numbers are 

 used for Turbot and Cod trots. The seven little holes like 

 shot-holes are very remarkable. A Shrimp-net or fine landing- 

 net is the best adapted for taking them, when they should be 

 kept in a bait kettle with a large stone or two for them to suck, 

 and sunk under water. 



Lampreys are not nearly as tenacious of life as ordinary 

 Eels. A regular fishery for Lamperns is followed at Teddington 

 on Thames. 



THE LIMPET. 



(Patella vulgata.) 



Limpets are so well known as scarcely to need description, 

 and may be used as bait when nothing better can be had. The 



