8 THE TROLI/ER'S GUIDE. 



occasion for stitching up the mouth, but I have killed 

 many Jack and Pike both with and without the mouth 

 being stitched or sown up ; in regard to cutting off the fins 

 of the bait fish, I am decidedly of opinion it is to the 

 angler's advantage to cut them all close away, because 

 the bait will then spin or twirl more freely in the water 

 when sinking or being drawn up, then when the fins are 

 left on, and further, the bait fish will last longer, for 

 when the fins are left on they frequently catch or hang 

 among weeds, and when this occurs the bait fish is 

 generally torn, or deprived of part of its scales, and of 

 course soon ceases to be an enticing bait; this is of great 

 consequence to the troller, who may be short of baits, 

 and also far from a place where he can replenish his bait 

 box, 



