130 CATCHING OF MINNOWS. 



with such abominations as brass minnows, Archimedean 

 screws, etc., unless they are for the purpose of banish- 

 ing fish from the waters or propelling machinery. 



As it does, however, happen that during flooded states 

 of the water, when the minnow can be used most suc- 

 cessfully, this little fish runs off and hides himself in 

 out-of-the-way holes and corners, secure from the violence 

 of the flood, as well as from the most cunning devices of the 

 angler to entrap him ; if the latter should unfortunately 

 have neglected to provide himself with some in a' pre- 

 served state, he must either have recourse to an artificial 

 representation or defer his operations altogether. In 

 this case, but in this only, and when no other method of 

 fishing will succeed, should he consent to the use of the 

 india-rubber substitute. 



CATCHING AND PRESERVATION OF MINNOWS. 



Every sportsman who devotes much time to angling 

 ought always to have in stock a good supply of minnows, 

 either alive or preserved. They may be caught when the 

 waters are fine and low, either with a casting-net, hoop- 

 net, or by a fine fly-hook and a morsel of small worm, 

 or a maggot. But the former methods are preferable if 

 they are to be preserved alive. A method called foxing 

 may also be resorted to where the shoals are numerous. 

 This is done by mixing bread crumbs with coculus in- 

 dicus, and tossing them into the water, when the minnows 

 will become helplessly intoxicated, rise to the surface, 



