TROLLING WITH THE DEAD GORGE BAIT. 199 
It is curious that whilst so many portions of the 
Fisherman’s equipment have of late years undergone 
such a complete transformation, the gorge-hook, 
except in the matter of finish, has been literally sta- 
tionary. In fact in a most essential particular it has 
retrograded instead of advancing—I refer to the length 
of the wire shank or “arming” attached to the leaded 
hook. This is a most important point, for two reasons. 
First because the modern system of elongating the 
hooks by a stiff coil of twisted wire destroys to a consi- 
derable extent the life-like play and elasticity of the 
bait ; and secondly, because this unnatural stiffness and 
rigidity is constantly the cause of the Pike refusing to 
pouch it. 
. The cause of the modern innovation is plain enough ; 
it is to assimilate this length of the hook to that of the 
bait, so that there may be something solid on which to 
fasten the bait’s tail, and thus prevent it slipping down 
the gimp and doubling up. Even with this assistance, 
however, the process of baiting is tedious enough : to be 
effectual it must be done very carefully ; and what can 
be more trying than pottering with numbed fingers over 
the complicated miseries of needle and silk in a biting 
east wind, or when, perhaps, the only propitious hour of 
a winter's afternoon is visibly gliding away? Moreover, 
if the hook be not exactly of the right length of the. 
bait’s tail, there remains the contingency either of 
having nothing to lap it to, or of leaving a thick 
