A SEASIDE YARN. 47 
be found in tolerably skilful hands as destructive an 
engine as can be well devised. In using it the great 
point is never to let the line slacken—indeed the point 
of the rod should always be kept a little bent. by the 
strain on the lead. When fish of moderate size are 
hooked, the line should not be reeled up but drawn 
in from below the first ring above the winch by the 
pband, keeping the rod well up. The weight of the 
sinker must be proportioned to the current of the. 
stream and depth of tide running, and different depths 
should be tried if the fish cease biting as the tide 
rises. “ Chop-stick lines” are also used for boat 
fishing. 
‘Without any comparison, the best bait for all 
small fish, as generally fished for on our coasts, is, in 
my opinion, the mud-worm (Syilis monilaris). These 
should be kept in water-tight wooden boxes, lined 
with pitch, which may be easily run into the seams 
with a hot iron. The ordinary puzzle-box shape is 
best, and the sliding cover must have a few small 
air-holes made in it. Clean sea-water, just sufficient 
to cover the worms, should be poured into the box 
every day, after thoroughly cleansing it, and removing 
every dead and injured worm. A little bit of wood 
nailed under one end of the box, so as to raise it 
about an inch, will be found advantageous, as it will 
keep the water always at one end, and enable the 
worms to crawl high and dry if they think proper, 
