340 BOOK OF THE BLACK BASS. 



allow him to gorge the bait to this extent. It is best to 

 strike quickly, so as to hook him in the mouth. In the 

 event of the Bass swallowing the hook, is is necessary to 

 cut out or tear out the hook, and often at the cost of 

 scratching or lacerating the angler's fingers ; and espe- 

 cially is this apt to be the case when a Pickerel or Pike- 

 perch is thus hooked, their long and sharp teeth being as 

 sharp as needles. 



To avoid this unpleasant feature, a disgorger is very 

 handy and efficacious. It consists of a stout piece of 

 wire, six or eight inches in length, with one end flat- 

 tened ; in this flat end a notch is filed, with cutting or 

 sharp edges, when, by pushing this sharp notch along the 

 hook, the latter is easily detached or cut out. 



A very convenient tool is made by Abbey & Imbrie, 

 No. 48 Maiden Lane, New York City, and designed 

 especially for this purpose, a cut of which is here ])re- 

 sented, which explains itself. In addition to the dis- 

 gorger, it has a strong, sharp blade, which can be made 

 available for many purposes, not the least of which is to 

 kill the fish as soon as caught, by severing the spinal cord 

 at the junction of the head and body. This should 

 always be done by the humane angler, for two good and 

 sufficient reasons: It immediately puts an end to the suf- 

 fering of the fish, and keeps the flesh firm and in good 

 condition. 



Minnow-Pails. 



To the bait-fisher for Black Bass, the proper form of 

 bait-can is quite an important item. There are two gen- 

 eral styles, one for boat-fishing, and one for stream-fishing. 



The best plan for a minnow-bucket for boat-fishing, and 



