CATCHING THE SMELT 



A quick, but not too forcible jerk is sufficient 

 to strike the fish. As soon as this is done, the 

 ones taken are lifted into the boat or upon the 

 wharf. The gills are tender, and although the little 

 fellows are inclined to play well, they should not 

 be given the chance. As the friends of the fisher- 

 man can always use to good advantage the fish 

 given to them, the question of numbers can be 

 readily settled. 



After the sun has risen well, and the water is 

 slack, the fish stop biting freely. Sometimes, 

 however, on a rainy day, if the hour is right, a 

 good catch can be secured. 



As the weather grows colder, the smelts go 

 farther and farther up the rivers, so that fishing 

 can be done along the banks from bridges and 

 piers. Quickness is required in catching a large 

 number. It is well to keep the bait moving and at 

 first to use two kinds of bait. When one is found 

 to be the favorite, then make both baits the same. 

 When the fish are taken, they thrash themselves 

 about in quivering, and their scales are easily de- 

 tached. It is well to have some sort of a basket 

 near at hand, or a box into which the fish can be 

 placed, thus avoiding the necessity of much scrub- 

 bing in order to eradicate the sticky loose scales 

 that are thrown about. 



*75 



