174 PICKEREL. 
never make many nor long-sustained mslies, but they 
give powerful jerks and flounces that, if resisted, will 
tear out or break any book ; otherwise, they can ordina- 
rily be drawn through, or more properly over, the water 
like a wet rag. The person who pulls them in as though 
it was a question of strength between him and the fish, 
deserves to lose them and have his fingers cut besides. 
The moment, however, the fish is at the side of the skiflf, 
he should be either gaflfed or lifted over the gunwale 
at once, as more are lost then than at any other time. 
Their jaws are mere skin and bone, the skin tearing 
away at once, and the bone forming no substance in 
which the hook can imbed itself, the latter sometimes 
slips out or more frequently is broken oflT. K you value 
your fingers, never put them in a pickerel's month or 
gills, which are armed with innumerable sharp and even 
venomous teeth. The best weather for trolling is a light, 
southwesterly breeze, and in large and deep waters a 
bright sky ; in a heavy wind, it is impossible to manage 
the boat. 
The hook should always be on wire or gimp, the 
former preferable as the latter is so rarely what it pro- 
fesses to be, and of course should be attached to the line 
by not less than two swivels. The best spoon is the so- 
called Buel's patent, with three hooks, either in one 
piece, or soldered firmly together, and a small elliptical 
piece of tin, copper or brass, made to revolve round them 
by means of a shoulder on the shank. This may be tin 
on one side and red on the other, or copper and brass, or 
copper or brass alone, to suit the angler's fancy, and the 
shank of the hooks is wound with scarlet flannel, or 
