SCENTED BAITS. 69 



any more than those of ordinary construction can. How 

 then can a fish, or any other nocturnal animal, capture 

 his prey by the aid of sight alone, in the midst of utter 

 darkness, as is often the case, unless he were either 

 made aware of its proximity to him by the sense of 

 smell, or some analogous faculty, equivalent to either ? 



And now that I am convinced that all predaceous 

 fish (and what fish are not more or less so to eat and 

 be eaten being the order of the day with them?) pursue 

 their prey almost, if not more, by smell than by sight, I 

 do not regard the assertion of some of the ancient 

 authors on angling, that certain odorous substances, 

 when applied to the bait, render it more seductive to the 

 fish, to be such a whimsical absurdity as some may at 

 first sight imagine. On the contrary, I believe it is quite 

 within the range of probability, that certain scents or 

 perfumes applied to the baits may be found to excite the 

 appetites of the fish, in the same manner as the savoury 

 odour of a beefsteak excites the gustatory nerves of a 

 hungry man. It is stated, that if the hands are rubbed 

 over with assafcetida, trout will be so overcome by its 

 odour, as to remain motionless until they are laid hold of. 



It is also said, by the way, that the odour of this 

 drug will so overcome rats, that they may be handled 

 with impunity, and will neither offer to bite nor escape ; 

 and that the valerian plant will attract all the male 

 cats in the neighbourhood, as well as even excite both 

 the lion and the tiger ! These may be all facts, for any- 

 thing I know to the contrary. 



A knowing cove of our fraternity once told me, that 



