Chandler's Greaves

[Ron Clay]

Now there's a bait I'll bet none of you have ever used.

Prior to the existance of gas and electricity, people relied on candles for lighting. Candles were made by boiling up the carcasses of animals, pigs, sheep and cattle in large vessels and then taking off the white fat from the top of what was left. At the bottom of the huge boiling pot was a mixture of boiled up flesh, gristle and other body part. This was scraped off and used for pet food and bait.

It was the supreme barbel bait and it did look a bit like luncheon meat.

But where to get it today.

Apparently there are people still making candles by traditional methods today, and the candles are mainly used in churches.

Does anyone else know where to obtain greaves?

[Snape]

Does anyone else know where to obtain greaves?

Probably the same place as bullock's pith!

On a more serious note it is in the encyclopaedia of baits published back in the 70s which I have somewhere - I'll go and have a look.....

[Snape]

You can make it yourself

Greaves is "the sediment of melted tallow. It is made into cakes for dogs' food".

Edible rendering processes are basically meat processing operations and produce lard or edible tallow for use in food products. Edible rendering is generally carried out in a continuous process at low temperature (less than the boiling point of water). The process usually consists of finely chopping the edible fat materials (generally fat trimmings from meat cuts), heating them with or without added steam, and then carrying out two or more stages of centrifugal separation. The first stage separates the liquid water and fat mixture from the solids. The second stage further separates the fat from the water. The solids may be used in food products, pet foods, etc., depending on the original materials. The separated fat may be used in food products, or if in surplus, it may be diverted to soap making operations. Most edible rendering is done by meat packing or processing companies.
One edible product is greaves, which is the unmeltable residue left after animal fat has been rendered.

How to render tallow (beef fat)?
http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/soapm ... tallow.htm

[Richard C]

Adopted by a certain fast food establishment represented by 'golden arches' one presumes! :hahaha:

[Ron Clay]

In Zambia and other parts of Southern Africa, the use of coarse blue soap is well known as a bait for Zambezi Vundu and other large catfish. Blue soap, similar to tallow, is produced by rendering animal carcases.