114 ANGLING 



hooks may also be baited with worms, if large and 

 red. 



In fishing with gudgeon or minnow in tranquil, or 

 in gently flowing waters, run the hook under the back 

 fin, and put shot enough, about a foot above the bait, 

 to keep it down well. You may use a float or not, in 

 this case ; but it is more difficult for young anglers to 

 kill a fish without a float than with one. Some authors 

 recommend spinning a dead minnow for the perch, on 

 the curious ground that the rod-fisher may kill a trout 

 or pike. This chance must be a very remote afiair, as 

 we should fancy, for the angler seldom encounters the 

 two in the same stream. 



Several kinds of bait are recommended for the perch : 

 gudgeon, minnow, worms, gentles, frogs. Undoubtedly 

 this fish will take all these, and many others of a 

 similar kind. We have seen them, for instance, killed 

 with slugs, and the stone-loach is thought to be very 

 persuasive. The common bait, however, for this fish, 

 taking all things into consideration, — season, size of fish, 

 state of water, weather, etc. etc., — is a fine large red 

 garden worm, commonly called a lob or dew worm. 

 These may be gathered by thousands late in the evening 

 after rain, without any fear of injuring them, as they 

 are then crawling about above ground ; but none but 

 red worms must be taken, the black being altogether 

 useless, avoided even by small eels. Fill a large flower- 

 pot, or some other convenient vessel, earthenware being 

 preferable, with a quantity of long clean moss ; press it 

 down hard, put the worms on the top of it, and drop 

 upon them a very small quantity of pure, sweet milk, 

 to purge and purify them. If this moss be frequently 

 washed and turned, and the worms carefully put on the 

 top of it every time, they will keep a long period, and 

 will become clear, firm, and of surprising toughness. 

 "We do not believe that a better bait than these worms, 

 so prepared, can be found for perch. Brandlings, and 

 small red-worms, and similar fancy things, are lauded 

 by some authors; but we feel confident that a little 

 experience will soon convince the angler there is 



