Cadews

John Williamson, The British Angler or a pocket-companion for Gentlemen-Fishers, Londres, J. Hodges, 1740.

There are divers Sorts of Cod-baits, Cadews, or Case-worms, which are to be found in several particular Counties, and in little Brooks that have Communication with larger Rivers. The first I shall mention is called a Piper, whose Husk or Case is a Piece of Reed about an Inch long, or somewhat more, and as big round as the Compass of a Silver Two-pence. These Worms being kept three or four Days in a Wollen bag, with Sand at the Bottom of it, and the Bag wet once a Day, will turn yellow, and become a choice Bait for the Chub or Chavender, or indeed for any great Fifh.

The lesser Cadews-worm, called a Cock-spur, being in Shape like the Spur of a Cock, sharp at one End, hath a Case made of small Husks, Gravel, and Slime, most curiously intermixed. This is good Bait for any Float Fish, being much less than the Piper-Cadews ; but must be ordered in the same Manner, and may be preserved ten, fifteen, or twenty Days, and sometimes longer.

The Straw-worm, or Ruff-coat, is another Kind of Cadews, whose House is made of little Pieces of Bents, Rushes, Straws, and Water-weeds, and so knit together with condensed Slime, that they stick about her not unlike the Bristles of a Hedge-hog. This Cadews, as well as the two former, is commonly taken in the Beginning of Summer, and is good to take any Kind of Fish, with Float or other-wife. But in order to know the several Kinds of Cadews, and to what Flies every particular Species turns, and then how to use them first as Cadews, and afterwards as Flies, is an Art that every one who professes to be an Angler has not leisure to search after, and if he had, is not capable of learning.

I shall only observe therefore in general of the Rest, that as several Countries have their several Kinds, sot hey are all usually bred in the little Rills or Ditches that run into larger Rivers, and are a more proper Bait for those very Rivers, than any other.