THE BOB.

Of all baits or lures used in Black Bass angling, one of the rudest in structure, the most nondescript in appearance, yet one of the most effective and killing in actual practice, is the "bob" of the extreme Southern States.

It has been in use in Florida for more than a century, and was first described by that quaint old naturalist, Bertram, in 1764. His description and method of using it, are identical with the "bob" and its use at the present day in Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.

The "bob" is composed of a triple hook, or three hooks tied back to back, and invested with a portion of a deer's tail, in the manner of a large, bushy, hackle; often intermixed with red and white feathers, or strips of scarlet cloth. It forms a tassel or tuft, somewhat similar to the so-called triple hook "fly" attached to most trolling spoons.

CHAPTER XVI.

NATURAL BAITS.

"And, good master, tell me what baits more you remember.”— IZAAK WALTON.

MINNOWS.

AMONG anglers, the term minnow is used to express any small fish used for bait, whether adult fish of certain families, or the young of others. But the term properly belongs to the family CYPRINIDE, which comprises numerous genera, and some of the genera are composed of many species.

The most generally diffused species are Luxilis cornutus, the common shiner; Semotilus corporalis, the common chub; and Ceratichthys biguttatis, the horned chub. The shiner is, by all odds, the best bait for the Black Bass, being quite silvery, as its name implies, and shows well in the water. It is not so hardy, or long-lived, on the hook, as the chub; but on account of its white and silvery appearance it is especially desirable for turbid or rough water, and on cloudy or dark days, though it is, for that matter, a good bait at all times.

The chubs are good bait on bright days with clear and still water; they have rather tough mouths, endure the hook well, and are rather more lively than shiners, and on these accounts are preferred by many anglers.

The young of some of the species of Catostomida (suck

ers), are also very good baits on sunny days, with clear and low water; their tough, leathery, and projecting lips are well adapted for the hook. They are quite hardy and lively.

The young of Perca americana (yellow perch), are excellent baits on ponds and lakes, early or late in the season; especially if the spinous dorsal fin be clipped off with a sharp knife, or a pair of scissors. They show well in the water, and often prove an attractive lure during the seasons mentioned.

As a rule, good-sized minnows should be employed, say from three to five inches long. The large minnows are livelier, more hardy, and live much longer on the hook than the small ones. A half-pound Bass will take the largest minnow as easily and as readily as the smallest one, so there is no fear of using minnows too large. It is true, that at times, the largest Bass seem to take to the smallest minnows, but on these exceptional occasions, they are off their feed, to a certain extent; for, usually, the largest Bass takes the largest minnows.

In baiting with the minnow, the hook should be entered through the lower lip and out through the nostril; if this is carefully done, the minnow will live a comparatively long time. Sometimes, with small minnows, the hook is passed out through the socket of the eye, care being taken not to injure the eye-ball. Another excellent way, especially with large minnows, is to pass the hook through both lips, the lower one first, and out through the upper one. When minnows are hooked in either of these ways, a dead one is often as good as a live one, for the moving of the line causes them to move in a natural manner. Where the water is without a current, as on ponds or lakes, and * Meduwnsized iminumu 3,827

Lony,

where the minnows are quite small, they may be, for still fishing, but under no other circumstances, hooked just back of the dorsal fin, and just above the backbone. But in hooking a minnow in this way, the angler should bear in mind the injunction of Father Izaak, in reference to hooking the live frog: use him as though you loved him. Chubs and suckers should always be hooked through the lips, which are comparatively tough.

An excellent method for affixing the minnow to the hook, in still-fishing-for it will not answer at all for casting and one that will well pay the angler for the extra time and trouble involved, is as follows:

"Take a piece of cotton thread about a foot long, tie the middle of it tight under the barb of the hook; now take the minnow in the left hand, lay the hook on its side, the barb up by the shoulder of the bait, with the shaft along the belly; now pass the thread over the shoulder and around under the fish, and tie the shaft of the hook, then pass the thread along the shaft until under and behind the back fin, then tie tightly around the shaft of the hook, then pass the thread on each side of the fish up to the back, just behind the back fin, and tie with a bow knot. This fastens the bait securely without hurting it, and you will have as lively a bait as ever used for still-fishing."

The angler can not be too careful of his minnows. The water in the bucket should be frequently changed, without waiting for them to appear at the surface to breathe-the usually accepted indication to change the water—for their vitality and strength are already impaired when this takes place, and many of them can not be revived afterwards. When available, especially in very hot weather, a piece of ice should be placed on the top of the minnow pail, and

covered with a woolen cloth. A little salt, added to the water in the pail, is very beneficial and adds to the preservation of minnows.

It is a good plan, when practicable, to use two minnowbuckets, one of which, containing most of the minnows as a reserve, should be, sunk in the water, and a few minnows taken out, as needed, for the bucket in use. In this way the entire stock can be utilized in good condition.

In carrying minnows to any distance, they should not be too much crowded in the pail; fifty minnows is enough for a five-gallon bucket. When more than this number is required, additional pails should be provided. A handful of water-weeds in the pail will prevent the minnows from being so much injured, as they otherwise would be, when conveyed over rough roads.

When it is not practicable to allow of a frequent changing of the water, the latter may be oxygenized or aërated by inserting a rubber, or other tube, well toward the bottom of the pail, and pumping air through it by means of a rubber bulb, such as is attached to a pump-syringe. It is worse than useless to blow through such a tube with the mouth; for the breath, being deprived of its oxygen in the lungs, carbonic acid gas takes it place, which is poisonous to the minnows; yet I have frequently seen this done by individuals, who erroneously supposed that they were freshening the water, because of the numerous bubbles produced.

THE HELGRAMITE.

The larva of the horned corydalis (Corydalis cornuta), an insect belonging to the order Neuroptera, is variously