The Lob-worm and Dew-worm are familiar to every schoolboy. The lob is commonly known as the large earth-worm, with bands round it close to the head; and the dew-worm is of the same species, but without these bands. The latter is preferable for a hook-bait, and the former best for ground-bait. These worms are to be found in summer at night-time, after or in the rain. Take a lantern, and seek for them in any ploughed field or on any lawn. They can be brought up to the surface in the driest weather, on any lawn, if it be well watered just before dusk.

The Brandling is a handsome worm, with bright yellow bands, and is found in old manure heaps. It is of most offensive smell.

The Tag-tail or Cockspur is a worm of bright coral appearance, with a yellow tip to its tail, and is found wherever the brandling appears.

The Cow-dung Bait is a larvæ or grub of a species of beetle. It is found under old and dry cow-dung in cattle pastures. It requires keeping in bran for a day or two before using.

The Caterpillars of various butterflies and moths, especially of the tiger moth, are always acceptable to fish.

The Grasshopper is an excellent bait for chub and

trout. Cruel as it may seem, it is best to detach the jumping legs as they are caught. This is not actually cruel, as the creature frequently sheds its legs itself as it seeks to escape.

The Wasp-grub should always be prized as a bait for roach, chub, tench, carp, &c. The grubs should be detached from the comb and placed on a colander, and boiling water poured over them for a few minutes, and then thrown into bran to cool. This renders them tough, and less liable to drop off the hook.

All the Pastes are exceedingly useful, and are made chiefly with flour or bread-preferably the latter. A little honey or aniseed is often very effective with roach.

Ground-bait is composed of raspings, stale bread, carrion, gentles, bran, and, in fact, anything of this nature. It should not be too copiously thrown in.

Gentles are the larvae offspring of the blow-fly. Liver produces the best.

Caddies are the larvæ of certain flies which deposit their eggs on the water. They build themselves a shell of sticks, pebbles, &c., and are a very deadly bait for almost any fish that swims.

To scour and preserve Worms. Procure a quantity of fresh moss, wash out all the earth, and squeeze it,

but not too dry; press it tightly down in a jar, and throw the worms upon it. Gentles should be thrown into a mixture of damp sand and bran, to clean them; and they will be ready for use in two days.

FLY-FISHING.

To be an expert fly-fisher is generally the ambition of the most enthusiastic angler; it requires much more neatness and skill than for bottom-fishing, and it is assuredly more gratifying in its results. The learner, if possible, should go out with some experienced angler, watch his movements closely, and imitate them as well as he can. He should begin with the line only, not putting on any flies, trying a short line first, and lengthening it gradually; the rod should be carried gently back, without effort, and thrown forward again when the line has reached its full extent behind him; great care must be taken in doing this, or the fly will be whipped off when he comes to use one. After attaining tolerable proficiency in this, the learner may then put on one fly, and fish for a while with that, adopting two or three when he is able to use them properly. The great art is to drop the fly lightly, that it may resemble a natural fly settling upon the water.

Suffer the line to float gently down the stream, at the same time dragging it towards you to your left hand.

The best time for angling with the fly is when there is a gentle breeze upon the water-south and west winds are to be preferred. The best time of day is morning or evening. You must be careful not to go near the bank, for fish are very quick of sight. If you see a rise, throw your fly about half a yard above, and let it fall with the stream, watching it narrowly, and strike the moment the fish rises; when you have hooked one, play him carefully, keeping up his head, and running him down the stream, at the same time drawing him towards you; a smaller fly is required when the water is smooth.

The materials required to make Artificial Flies. Feathers of the grouse, snipe, duck, bittern, golden plover, jay, starling, and peacock. Furs of all colours, from the skins of squirrels, moles, and water-rats; camel's hair, hare's ear, and fur from the neck of the marten; mohairs of different shades, and camlets; black horse-hair; hog's down, dyed various colours; gold and silver twist, and sewing silk of all colours and thicknesses; a pair of fine-pointed scissors, and small pliers.

I

HOW TO MAKE AN ARTIFICIAL FLY.

It is extremely difficult to impart directions how to make an artificial fly, but if the reader is very careful not to miss the meaning of what is here set forth before him, and if he has carefully gone through the instructions for making coarse fish tackle before given, he will be quite competent to attempt to imitate the natural insect he finds by the water-side, so as to catch trout.

The following shows how to make a plain Hacklefly, that is, a fly which is, strictly speaking, not an imitation of anything, but is, notwithstanding, very often attractive to fish. A hackle-fly looks as if it were all legs, and probably is supposed by the fish to be an insect with buzzing wings.

Take your hook between the points of the thumb and forefinger of your left hand. Hold it firmly by the shank, with the tip of the shank slightly projecting beyond your finger-end towards the right. The back of the shank is to be upwards. Take your waxed silk, holding the left point of it as you do the hook, and whip it three times tightly round the shank of the hook towards the end-that is, in a contrary direction to the bend. Hold down your silk out of your way by placing