FISH BAITS. KNOTS, SPLICES, AND BENDS. 199 



the foot removed, it spouts up water, showing you where to 

 thrust down your spear. Another method of taking these fish 

 consists in throwing a large pinch of salt into the hole made by 

 the fish, which immediately comes up partially above the sur- 

 face of the sand, and must be quickly secured. The holes left 

 by the Razor Fish in the sand are very like a key hole. Take 

 about a pound of salt with you, and dropping a good pinch 

 into the holes of five or six at a time, pour a little water with 

 your hand on top of it. This washes the salt down on to the 

 Razor Fish, which at once rises an inch or more above the sand, 

 so as to enable you easily to grasp it and draw it up. Dozens 

 may be thus taken for food or bait 



FISH BAITS. 



No class of creatures prey more upon each other than fish. 

 Pieces of Mackerel, Pilchards, Herrings, Gar-fish, &c., are 

 therefore extensively used for Mackerel, Whiting, Hake, Bream, 

 and Conger, &c., as already described under these several 

 heads. 



ARTIFICIAL BAITS. 



The Spoon-Bait is widely used. In addition to these, I 

 may mention the India-rubber band and Captain Tom's 

 Spinning Sand-eels and Lug-worms, as well as the Silver- 

 spinners, by several makers. See p. 83, figs. 27, 28, and 29. 



Use none but brass swivels for sea-work, as those made of 

 steel corrode very quickly. 



KNOTS, SPLICES, AND BENDS. 



The Overhand or Common Knot (fig. 53). This is useful 

 on the end of a line to 

 prevent unravelling, and I 

 recommend that one should 

 be made on the end of 

 the sidstrap of ground-lines 

 over which the snood is to F IG , S3 . 



be looped. 



Regarding these matters, if in a difficulty consult some old 

 seaman. 



