234 COARSE FISH. 



if I want lobs, I write to Theaker, 3 Broad Marsh, 

 Nottingham, and I must say he has never failed me in 

 punctuality or in the quality of the lobs sent. Lobs, 

 when freshly picked off the grass, are of little use for 

 angling ; they are tender and partially filled with mould. 

 Fill a tub or pan with damp moss pressed down, place 

 the worms on the top of the moss, and they will crawl in 

 and quickly scour themselves. They should be picked 

 over carefully and the dead ones removed every two or 

 three days, for a worm is no good unless it is " sweet." 

 Worms breed and live well in rotten sacking, and 

 damped flax waste is an excellent thing to scour them in. 



Keeping the feet dry should carefully be attended to, 

 especially by persons of sedentary habits. Stout 



■^^"'^ boots, with a few nails in the soles and heels to 

 clothing prevent sUpping, are all right for summer wear ; 

 but for winter use, or for walking in wet grass 

 and damp situations, knee-boots afford great comfort, 

 quite making up for their extra weight. Rubber boots 

 entirely keep out damp, but they also keep in perspira- 

 tion, so they should be felt-lined. An acquaintance, who 

 fishes constantly, says that rubber boots give him 

 neuralgia, while leather boots do not. Oilskins which 

 will really keep out wet are indispensable for winter 

 use. I prefer the short, shiny, black coats, but wear 

 a sweater under the waistcoat to guard against chills 

 from perspiration. A light, short coat, to loop up when 

 wading, is useful for summer wear, but there is nothing 

 like good seamen's " oilies " for bitter cold winter work. 

 Nailed boots will cut a punt about terribly ; wear felt- or 

 rubber-soled shoes in summer, and rubber boots in 

 winter. Neutral tints are most sportsmanlike in clothing, 

 and it is a pity " oiUes " are black or yellow only. I 

 never sit on the ground when roaching; a small triangular 

 camp-stool, with webbing, folding into a very small 

 compass, is handy to carry, affords comfort, and may 

 possibly save a serious illness. In legering and roach- 

 fishing, a sitting position is almost compulsory. An 

 " oily " should never be rolled up wet and left in that 

 state, or it will soon rot ; open the coat well to dry it, 

 hanging it up on a stick through the arms, and opening 

 it out well. With a short coat, waterproof trousers should 



