Chap. 4. Of the PIKE. 165 



of that Corruption, than as it ferves them for a 

 proper Nell and Nouriihment. And doubt- 

 lefs, by Parity of Reafon, there will be more 

 Pikes found where there is a Plenty of this 

 their favourite Weed, than in any other Place, 

 without the Weed's contributing in the leaft to 

 their original Produ<5lion. 



As to fifhing for the Pike^ you may do it ei- 

 ther with zLedger or a Walking- baiLWe call that 

 a Ledger-bait which is fixed, or made to reft in 

 one certain Place when we are abient from it ; 

 and that a JValking-hait which we take with us, 

 and have ever in Motion. The beft Ledger is a li- 

 ving Bait, tho' a dead one may Ibmetimes catch, 

 whether it be a Fijh or a Frog, That you may- 

 make them live the longer, obferve thefe Di- 

 re^ions. 



A Roach or Dace is the beft and moft tempt- 

 ing of all Fifh-baits ; but a Perch is the 

 longeft-livedon a Hook. Having cut off the 

 Fin on his Back, which may be done without 

 hurting him, you muft take a Knife, and make 

 an Incifion betwixt the Head and the Fin on 

 the Back, or fuch a Scar as you may put the 

 arming \V'"ire of your Hook into it, with as 

 little Bruifing of the Filh as Art and Practice 

 will enable you to do : Then carrying your 

 arming Wire along his Back, quite to, or near 

 the Tail of your Filh, betwixt his Skin and 

 his Body, draw it out at another Notch near 

 his Tail : Then tie him about it with Thread, 

 but no harder than to prevent hurting theFiihj 

 which the better to avoid, fome have a kind 



of 



