ST. MARY'S LOCH PIKE-FISHING. 115 



hook projecting on each side of the mouth. The bait 

 usually employed is a parr or small trout, ranging in 

 size from half an ounce to two or three ounces, ac- 

 cording to the size of the fish that frequent the casts. 

 The bait is thrown out as far as is thought desirable 

 usually just beyond a bed of weeds ; is allowed to sink 

 nearly to the bottom, and is then slowly drawn up, and 

 again permitted to sink, and thus brought inwards un- 

 til the cast is completed. Or a running-tackle may be 

 made, consisting of large hooks tied upon gimp, in the 

 same manner as the ordinary minnow-tackle, with one or 

 two large swivels for the purpose of spinning a small 

 trout, parr, or parr-tail, or even the head and half of 

 the body of any of these. There are other and very 

 complicated tackles used for capturing pike, but those 

 we have described are at once the simplest and the 

 best. The most important directions to be given for 

 pike-fishing are, to bring the bait carefully to the side 

 of the beds of weeds, or even amongst them if it can 

 be done with safety, and to refrain from striking the 

 fish, when he seizes the bait, until he has pouched it 

 To this end, a yard or two of line should be kept free 

 in the hand of the angler, and given out without any- 

 check when the pike has taken the bait, until he has 

 retreated to his hold and begun to swallow his prey. 

 He will often sail slowly about or remain stationary 

 with it in his mouth for several minutes without try- 

 ing to bolt it ; but, especially when fishing with the 

 first-mentioned tackle, it is necessary to humour him. 

 When, after moving about, he stops for a little, and 

 the angler begins to perceive a strain upon the line, 

 the time has come for striking him ; and frequentlj 



