THE ROD IN SALT WATER 397 



other fish at Littlehampton, wading out in the surf 

 and casting his bait, of which no one learnt the secret, 

 just beyond the waves. Speaking generally, however, 

 it is the local bait which answers best. Thus, to take 

 the case of the bass. In estuaries, like that of the 

 Devonshire Teign, beside which I am at present living, 

 where these fish chase the sandeels over the bar, no 

 other bait is so deadly as a living sandeel. In Cornwall, 

 on the other hand, where the big bass are scavengers, 

 nosing among the weed for refuse from the pilchard 

 boats, a dead pilchard is the best bait, and they do not 

 object if it is a few days old. Elsewhere, again, the 

 baits differ : at Felixstowe, ragworms or artificial bait ; 

 at Ramsgate, mackerel ; at Aldeburgh, a phantom 

 minnow ; at Barmouth, a bait made with plaice skin ; 

 at Padstow, green crab ; at Tenby, ray's liver. Such 

 are a few of the offerings which lure this fish on different 

 parts of the coast. 



It must be admitted that the bass is an exception. 

 Most other fish have one universal bait that is best, 

 wherever they are caught. 



Mussels or sand worms are good bait for cod, flat- 

 fish, whiting, and mackerel, when the last-named are 

 feeding at the bottom. 



Pieces of fresh herring or mackerel will catch cod, 

 whiting, mackerel, and gurnard. 



Squid and cuttlefish are perhaps the best bait for 

 conger. 



Ragworms (which are distinct from lugworms, being 



