BAITS. 23S 



killed bullock, cow, or sheep, first thoroughly clean and mash 

 them in cold water, and then boil them for fifteen minutes, 

 changing the water once during the process. When cold they 

 are ready for use. 



The ' pith ' is the spinal marrow of a bullock or cow, and 

 should also be obtained quite fresh. The pith requires to be 

 boiled for about three minutes to prepare it for use. The brains 

 and marrow from one bullock will be sufficient for an ordinary 

 day's fishing. In order to make the brains sink readily, and 

 also in order to separate the particles, or make them fine, some 

 fishing authorities recommend that the brains should be chewed 

 by the angler as he uses them. This process, however, though 

 effectual, is not relished by most persons, and the best substitute 

 is to squeeze the brains in the hand whilst under water. The 

 brains should be thrown in from time to time, in pieces about 

 the size of a walnut, a few yards (according to stream and 

 depth) above the spot which is covered by the bait. 



The pith when used for chub or barbel should be cut up 

 as required into pieces about the size of a large hazel nut, and 

 baited on a No. 9 or 10 hook (See plate, p. 207.) 



The author of ' Spinning and Float-fishing in the Notting- 

 ham Style ' is in favour of boiling the brains, but against boiling 

 the pith. He says : 



' It is, in my idea, the winter bait par excellence for chub : I 

 allude to pith and brains. The pith is the spinal cord of a bullock ; 

 your butcher will draw you a piece out when you want to use it. 

 The brains are used for ground-bait, and they must be washed 

 perfectly clean and well scalded, or else boiled for a few minutes 

 in a bag. They can then be cut up very small with a knife and 

 thrown in. Don't, however, be extravagant in this matter ; a very 

 few pieces are quite sufficient. The pith itself when you first see 

 it looks a very dirty and disagreeable affair ; the pieces are about 

 as thick as your forefinger, and I have had them a foot long. The 

 skin must be slit from end to end with a pair of fine-pointed 

 scissors, carefully pulled off, and thrown away, being useless. 

 The pith must then be washed two or three times in clean water 

 till it is perfectly clear from blood and all other impurities, and as 

 white as card. Some anglers recommend that it should be scalded, 



