34 SEA-FISH. 
or the trouble of netting it, a pollack-bait second 
only to the living sand-eel. Though not more 
delicate than other crustaceans, prawns do not 
thrive in the narrow confines of a bait-can, the 
courge (p.119) being the only satisfactory receptacle 
for the purpose ; and indeed the best way is, I 
have always found, to arrange with the owner of 
prawn-pots at so much a head for his catch (usually 
2d. apiece), also hire himself and boat, let him row 
you out to the grounds where the pots are set 
(which are also the pollack-grounds), and remove 
each prawn from the pots as you place it on 
the hook. Of the anatomy of the prawn, on 
which something should be said in this place, it 
will suffice to mention the distinguishing toothed 
beak and the long and sensitive antenna, the small 
pincers and the fan-shaped tail that enables the 
prawn to leap backwards a distance exceeding his 
own length, which is not more than 4 inches. The 
prawn is essentially carnivorous, and, by tacit 
understanding, no questions are asked as to the 
fattening of those excellent prawns of Indian and 
other Eastern rivers that make such unrivalled 
curries. Our own species feed on any flesh they 
can get hold of, and are even known to dispossess 
anemones of half-devoured meals. 
Two sea-worms of great value to the angler have 
Rag- been mentioned above, and a third, less 
worm useful yet killing at times for pollack, is 
dug from the black ooze of harbours and estuaries, 
known as the rag-worm, or, at Dover and some 
other places, as the mud-worm. In colour, it varies 
from pink to yellow, with the iridiscence charac- 
teristic of sea-worms, and the body is furnished 
