IRISH LOACH-TROLLING. 21 
-a link of clear, clean gut. As a general rule, the 
limit of his taste in this respect does not exceed 
baits of three or perhaps four inches. He must be 
hard up for a dinner if he goes beyond these dimen- 
sions. To be sure it has been stated—what indeed 
of fishes has not ?—that, like the pike, he attacks 
prey of a considerable size. Possibly this may be 
so. There are cannibals amongst our own species who 
will finish a missionary at a meal; but these are 
fortunately exceptions to the general tastes of hu- 
manity, I have trolled with pike-tackle and larger 
baits, how often I know not; but never, in any 
instance, did ferow favour me with a call while 
engaged in this kind of work in the waters which he’ 
inhabits. Of his feeding on small shells and larvae, 
which are to be found in large quantities on the 
bottom of lakes, the evidence, though inferential, 
assumes a look of certainty, on examining the con- 
tents of his stomach. The débris of these semi- 
digested creatures is. there to be seen and felt 
clearly enough. Amongst the mass are traces of 
apparently green. vegetable matter; but whether 
these are the remains of a salad of aquatic herbs is 
problematic. 
The dietetic tastes of our subject being thus dis- 
posed of, so far as I have observed, the selection of 
the best bait, and the mode of using it, follow in 
order. Of those which I have stated, the loach will 
