SPINNING. 189 
though that hold is neither so secure nor so safe for the 
Fisher, because the fish in that heat of passion, may acci- 
dentally take revenge upon his adversary, by letting him 
blood in the Fingers, which way of phlebotomizing is not 
esteemed so good.” 
The justice of this latter observation will probably com- 
mend itself to Pike-fishers without any very elaborate 
argument. Indeed most of us would probably object to 
attempting practically either one or the other of Nobbes’ 
ingenious methods. If neither a landing-net nora gaff 
is accessible, by far the best and safest method of landing 
a Pike is to grasp him as tightly as possible behind the 
shoulders, and either lift or throw him on the bank. 
In spinning, the gaff has a great advantage over the 
net, inasmuch as it prevents the straining, and often 
breaking of the flight, by the struggles of the fish in the 
net. <A  Pike-fisher will generally find it both more 
profitable and more amusing to gaff his own fish. 
SPINNING-BAITS. 
To commence with the fresh, natural baits. Of all 
the natural Pike-baits ordinarily used, the best, both 
as regards perfection of spinning and durability is in- 
contestibly the Gudgeon, and I believe that taking the 
average of waters and weathers, it is also, of such baits, 
the most killing all the year round. In clouded water 
or very dark weather, a Bleak or small bright Dace or 
Chub may, from their glittering scaling, possibly possess 
