52 THB TROLI/ER'S GUIDE. 



lifting up a heavy fish, if he struggles, he is very likely to 

 break either rod or line; or probably his pouch may draw 

 out and you thereby lose your prize. A hook of this 

 . kind you should always carry with you ; the most port- 

 able are those made to screw into a two jointed telescope 

 rod, (see the cut in chap. 1 ) which I believe all the prin- 

 cipal fishing tackle shops keep ready for sale. You may 

 carry this landing hook very conveniently slung to the 

 inside of your jacket or coat, on the left side thereof 

 having a narrow long pocket made to receive it. 



Observe when Trolling, Live-Bait Fishing, or Snap 

 Fishing, you should bait the hook the last thing, that is, 

 after you have put the rod, line, &c. together, because 

 it is essential to offer the Jack or Pike a bait exceed- 

 ingly fresh and sweet, also make it a rule to put a fresh 

 bait on when you find the present one is torn, or becomes 

 water sopt, and be careful to remove any piece of weed,&c. 

 that may have hung to a bait before you cast in again, 

 for Jack or Pike will seldom take a stale or sopped bait, 

 nor one on which hangs weeds, grass, or any thing else, 

 and when you go for a day's trolling with the gorge, pro- 

 vide a tin box sufficiently large to hold six fish baits laying 

 at their full length, and put under, between and over them 

 some clean bran, which will absord the moisture from their 

 bodies and keep them sweet for a long time; and they will 

 also remain longer firm and stiff. I generally use a square 

 tin box, with hinges and a slip clasp, of the following 



