APPENDIX 



pike fisherman has discovered, all pike roam far and 

 wide in search of food in stormy weather. 



I could not keep my eyes fixed on the red-and-green 

 float for the life of me, the ever-changing panorama 

 before me proved so attractive. The angry black 

 water, streaked with long, white streamers of foam 

 looking not unlike the streamers of clouds whipping 

 across the sky, formed a picture, the like of which I 

 have never seen on canvas. How many "storms at 

 sea our art galleries display! But whoever yet saw 

 a wind-blown lake? I was the only fisherman out 

 therefore I had the water to myself, a little matter 

 for which I think I was duly grateful. 



Perhaps half an hour or more passed before the float 

 dived beneath the surface, though I did not know the 

 precise moment when it disappeared, only I looked for 

 it and it was gone. Quietly I took the rod from the 

 holder, felt the fish," discovered it was on, and set 

 the hook. Instantly that line came to life. To any- 

 one who has had a lurking suspicion that my tackle 

 was unduly heavy, I can only say I wish you had held 

 that rod. If any doubt the gameness of the common 

 every-day great pike, are tempted to call him a "miser- 

 able pickerel," to them I can also say, I wish you had 

 held that rod. It was a great battle while it lasted, 

 and when at last I brought the six-pound great pike 

 alongside the dancing boat and placed a .32 bullet 

 right between his eyes, I was well satisfied with still- 

 fishing with live bait for great pike, not imagining 

 what a wonderful experience Dame Fortune held up 

 her sleeve for me. It is a fact that good fortune as 

 well as ill fortune is more than apt to repeat. One 

 seldom catches a single fish. 



Once more I baited up, which is always an interest- 

 ing and important operation, for the minnow must be 

 properly impaled in order that it may live as long as 

 possible; for while a dead minnow, kept in motion by 

 the tireless waves, will catch great pike, one swimming 

 freely is far and away more attractive. The hook 

 must be thrust through in such a position that the 



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