5G best's art of angling 



if you do he will launch and plunge in sueh a 

 manner, that though he may not be able to break 

 your tackel, yet he will tear away his hold ; nay, 

 even his entrails if he is hooked there; but if you 

 feel him come easily towards you, wind up your 

 line, until you see him; then if he struggles again 

 very much, give hiui line again ; and so proceed 

 till }'ou have killed him; by following which 

 methods you will soon accompiish. The pike 

 bites best IVom the middle of suinmer, to the end 

 of autumn, about three in the afternoon, in clear 

 water, ruffled with a gentle gale; but in winter 

 all day long; and in the spring he bites early in 

 the morning, and late in the evening. The best 

 baits for him are small roaches, daces, bleaks, 8cc. 

 \^ the day be dark and cloudy ; but a Q;itdgeon is 

 the best, if the water is clear, and the day bright 

 and line. Your live baits should be kept in a tin 

 kettle, with holes made in the lid, that you may 

 change your water often, which will keep tlieui 

 alive a long while; your dead ones in a tin 

 box made for that purpose, with bran, whieh 

 dries up the moisture tliat hangs about tliem, 

 and contributes to preserve them longer. Ang- 

 ling for the pike at the snap is to let him run a 

 little and then to strike him the contrary vfay 

 from whence he runs, with two strong jerks ; in 

 this method you must use a double spring hook 

 w hich is to be had at any of the shops, and your 

 tackle must be very strong. The snap is best 

 used in March, when they are spawning; at 

 which time they are sick, and lose their stomach; 

 though they v;iil then take your bait, but imme- 

 diately throvv it out of their mouths; therefore 

 striking them when they first take [the bait is the 

 only way to be even with them; which is called 

 iingling'dtsnop. The way to bait the snap hook i& 



