134 LIVE-MINNOW PRESERVE. 



a live-minnow preserve. This consists of a wooden box, 

 four or five feet long, by two feet wide, and one and a 

 half in depth. The box must have the ends near the 

 upper part perforated with gimlet-holes; or perforated 

 plates of tin or zinc, or wire gauze, may be fixed over 

 openings cut in them. It is then to be placed, sunk 

 within six inches of the top, in the bed of a drain or 

 small rill, where a current of water will circulate through 

 it. The bottom of the box ought to be covered to the 

 depth of a few inches with gravel, and it may also have 

 a lid to keep all secure from the depredations of boys 

 and herons the chief marauders to be dreaded. If a 

 pane of stout glass or copper gauze is inserted in the lid 

 of the box, and a lock attached, the whole is complete. 

 The glass in the lid is to allow the fish to see to feed. 

 In such a receptacle minnows may be kept in a healthy 

 state for any length of time ; and if occasionally fed 

 with small worms, grubs, and caddies, I have no doubt 

 they would breed and multiply, provided the box is large 

 enough, its bottom properly covered with sand and 

 gravel, and the glass in the lid freely admitted the rays 

 of the sun. When wanted for use, the minnows may be 

 caught by means of a small bowl-net, made of a ring of 

 stout brass wire, six inches in diameter, covered with a 

 net of coarse open muslin, inserted into a wooden handle 

 the whole resembling a large soup-ladle. 



MINNOW-TROLLING. 

 The best method of constructing trolling-tackle, and 



