THE HERMIT. THE SOLEN. 197 



Bream, &c., when about to cast its shell, in which state some 

 are to be found the whole year. 



To obtain these soft Crabs, see p. 120. 



In their ordinary state they are much used to bait Lobster- 

 pots, the back shell having been first removed, and many 

 Wrasse or Rock-fish, otherwise called Conners or Curners, are 

 frequently taken in the pots at such times. 



Green Crabs may be caught in any quantity in hoop-nets 

 baited with a bit of meat or any garbage. When two crabs are 

 found under stones in company, the lower one is fit for bait. 



THE HERMIT OR SOLDIER CRAB. 



(Pagurus Bernhardus.} 



This curious animal, having no shell to protect the tail part 

 of its body, takes up its abode in that of a Whelk. 



This tail part is a good bait for Whiting-Pout, Cod, Haddock, 

 &c., and must always be put on whole, or it is spoiled. 



Soldier Crabs are frequently found in Crab-pots, and where 

 they abound may be taken in hoop-nets baited with a piece of 

 any fish. (See also fig. 76, p. 246.) Numbers are caught 

 while trawling and dredging. 



A large Rag- Worm is sometimes found living in company 

 with this Crab in the tail part of the shell. 



THE SOLEN OR RAZOR FISH. 



The empty shells of this fish are constantly met with by 

 seaside visitors on every sandy beach. They are both eaten 

 and used as bait for ground-fishing, and are to be procured by 

 the aid of the spear (fig. 52, p. 198), and described by H. K. in 

 No. 1053 of the ' Field.' This consists of a piece of iron wire 

 about one-sixth of an inch in thickness and 2 J ft. in length ; 

 one end of this is heated in the fire and then beaten out flat 

 to the thickness of about ^ of an inch for 2 inches of its 

 length, and then with a file a triangular head is cut on the 

 flattened part, projecting equally on both sides, and about 

 half an inch in width (see figure) ; the other end is then 

 firmly fixed into a small cylindrical piece of some hard 

 wood, such as ash, about 5 inches long and one in diameter, 



