Chads.
For ground-fishing Chad is often cut up into bait, and is not to be despised when the usual supply is difficult to obtain or is liable to run short. For large Pollack, Congers, Hake, &c., a whole Chad forms an excellent bait after removing the head and backbone. They are also sometimes used alive.

Sand-eels and Launce.
These silvery and delicate little fish are greatly in request for drift-lining and other methods. They inhabit sandy beaches all round the coasts, entering the sand during the receding tide and remaining concealed until the bar is again covered. Spring tides are the best to search for them, and a soft, sandy beach, without much shingle, is a likely locality. In the daytime they can be obtained by digging in the sand with a fork or a shovel, throwing the sand quickly on to the dry surface. When a Launce is unearthed it must be grasped at once, and transferred to a basket or a bucket. Always take a little sand together with the fish, otherwise it is extremely liable to slip through the ringers. Try near the edge of the water or in patches of sand amongst the rocks. Another plan commonly practiced is by means of a launcing-hook. This instrument is made of iron, curved slightly at the point and fitted into a wooden handle. The iron projects Sin. From the handle, and is 1in. wide at the base, tapering towards the hook, the inside edge of which is rather blunt. When a fish is felt, it is raised by means of the hook, grasped quickly in the hand, and deposited in the basket. The dotted lines show the usual method of working the hook, and it is always directed towards the person. A moonlight night is the best time for Launcing when the tide is low, about 10 p.m. or TI p.m. On dark nights a light must be carried. By this method I have sometimes taken a basketful of Launce in a short space of time, and it is most exciting sport. Any not required for bait should be fried and eaten, as they form a delicious article of food when in roe, but are not so good in winter. There are two species, called the Greater and the Lesser Sand-eel respectively. Calm weather is the best for Launcing, and the likeliest spots are where the sand is soft. The Lesser Weever is a small silvery fish that often abounds in beaches frequented by Launce. It has a flat head, armed with two spines with which it can inflict a rather severe sting, and care must be taken not to grasp it hastily. A much more dangerous creature is the Greater Weever, which bears on its head an evil-looking black sting, and its sides are marked with green or blue stripes. Fishermen assert that a wound from this fish will cause the arm to swell as far as the shoulder, and, possibly, blood-poisoning might ensue. They are said to be excellent as food, and I have occasionally taken them when whiffing over sand. If the sand is suddenly stamped upon or beaten with a spade, Launce will occasionally jump out of it, and they are often found dead upon the surface. A rake having several prongs is also used for taking these fish. When required alive, they should be caught in a Sand-eel seine made expressly for the purpose. In many instances Smelts may be substituted for Launce, especially in baiting long-lines.

Cuttie.
Visitors to a beach will be familiar with a white, oval-shaped object often seen lying amongst the seaweed, especially after a gale. This is the back-bone, or rather; shell, of the Cuttle-fish, the soft part being often used for removing ink-stains from the fingers or as tooth-powder when finely pounded. It is also given to cage-birds and is sold in shops for that purpose. A much commoner variety, however, is the Squid or Pen-and-ink fish, which forms excellent bait for ground-fish, such as Congers, Bass, and many others, and it is often known as “Cuddle" by the fishermen. Like the larger Cuttle, it ejects an inky fluid when alarmed which darkens the water and enables it to escape from its enemies. Trawlers catch a great number of Cuttle, from whom they can often be obtained. The best time for taking Cuttle is in the evening or early morning, and they are found at no great distance from the shore. Attach a piece of fresh fish, such as Long-nose, Pilchard, or Mackerel, to the end of a line and, having lowered it to the bottom, draw it gradually to the surface. As soon as a Squid has seized the bait it must be raised very gently, and gaffed before it releases its hold. The fish must be instantly drawn under water by the gaff until it has discharged its ink, otherwise it will squirt it all over the fisherman, and damage his clothing. Meanwhile the boat should be anchored or allowed to drift slowly. Squid are also taken with a " jigger," which consists of a piece of lead having a number of pins soldered to the lower part in a circle, and then bent upwards.  Near piers Squid often assemble in shoals, attracted by the angler's baits, and effectually drive every other fish away for a time. In Cornwall, September or October are the best months for catching Squid.

Octopus.
The Octopus, or Poulpe, is a dreaded creature possessing a powerful beak, with which it tears its prey to pieces after it has captured its victim. It occasionally attains an enormous size, and has been known to attack boats. In Guernsey, the fishermen wade out at extreme springs, and poke about amongst the rocks with a hook or a gaff, using the Octopus when captured as a bait for Conger. These creatures are much disliked by the crabbers, as they enter the store-pots by squeezing between the bars, and when the fisherman comes to haul his pot, he finds, instead of Crabs and Lobsters, nothing but shells left, behind. In Southern Italy, the Octopus is largely used as an article of food, the long tentacles being cut transversely, and, when served at table, have the appearance of rings. They are lured in the daytime with a piece of red flannel tied to the end of a bamboo, and are speared with a trident upon their attempting to grasp it. An iron cradle, containing a fire of resinous wood, is placed in the bow of the boat at night-time to attract the Octopus to its destruction. Lately, however, this ancient and picturesque custom has been entirely superseded by acetylene gas, which sheds a much stronger light upon the water. Enormous catches are thus made, and this method might well be adopted by fishermen in the West of England as a means of lessening their numbers.

Mussels.
These shell-fish form the universal bait for Cod, Haddock, Whiting, Bream, Pout, and many other fish, found clinging in bunches to rocks or piers.  Method of Opening a Mussel, showing how blade of knife should be inserted, but do not attempt any leverage until the tough gristle holding the thin edges together has been severed. For this operation a strong clasp-knife, or, better still, a table-knife the blade of which has been worn down to a short stump, is useful. When opened, pass the knife beneath the two halves, and collect the fish into one shell. To bait the hook, pass it first through the narrow whitish gristle, bring it between the soft parts, and finally insert the point in the small leathery tongue. The latter is properly the foot of the Mussel, though it resembles a tongue in shape. Some fishermen adopt exactly the reverse of the above method in baiting the hook. A little practice is required to collect this soft mass, and place it upon the hook so that it will not be dissipated at the first bite. Mussels should be opened before starting to fish, and placed upon a piece of board to harden. To render them tougher hot water is sometimes poured on them; or they may be slightly boiled. It is dangerous to eat Mussels which grow near copper, or in proximity to drains, persons having been poisoned by indulging too freely. In Italy these shell-fish attain a large size, measuring sometimes 1ft. length. A Rag-worm is occasionally found amongst a bunch of Mussels. To preserve these shell-fish alive they should be placed in a bag of netting, and lowered overboard by a line.

Cockles
These are also used largely for bait, being extremely plentiful in some places, but are more difficult to keep on the hook.

The Varm, or Sea Tape-worm.
In appearance this resembles a large rag-worm, and is said to be excellent bait for Bream, Whiting, very local in its distribution, it is not generally used, and appears to be unknown on the South- West coast.

Lug -worms.
On most beaches, composed of sand, numbers of the spiral casts or "coils" thrown up by these worms may be noticed. They form an excellent bait for many fish — Cod, Whiting, Plaice, and all bottom-feeders being especially fond of them. Commence to dig at a little distance from the cast, forming a kind of trench. Then with a rapid movement drive the spade beneath the place where you suppose the worm is concealed, throwing the sand out quickly. These worms are brown or green in color, and often reach 1 ft. in length, being as thick as one's finger. When handled they exude a yellow fluid, which is apt to stain the hands. Under stones among rocks they are often found in large numbers. Do not break this worm, but pass the hook two or three times through it. At many seaside places a supply of Lug-worms is always kept by the fishermen for the use of visitors, and the usual price is per 100. By placing them in a shallow box, filled with sand, they may be preserved alive for a day or so.

Soft Crab.
This is an excellent bait for Bass, Flounders, and other fish. Soft Crabs are common green Crabs which have cast their shell, and are in the best condition for bait just before this operation. By raising large stones amongst seaweed they may generally be obtained, or by lowering a dip-net, baited with any kind of fish. They are taken in quantities by the round prawn-nets.

Hermit Crab.
This strange creature, having no proper dwelling-place, lives in a vacated shell, and usually occupies that of the Whelk. It resembles a miniature Cray-fish or a Lobster, but the tail part inside the shell is soft. This portion makes a good bait for Cod, Haddock, and other fish. They are locally known as " Farmers " or Soldier-Crabs. A large rag-worm sometimes inhabits the same shell as this curious tenant.