HOW TO PLACE THE BAIT, &c. 



a little, which will sometimes stimulate a Jack to seize 

 it, fearing it is making its escape, though while it was 

 stationary the Jack is seldom in a hurry about it, which 

 prove the advantage of strong lively baits over the 

 weak and languid, cast in search in all the bends, bays, and 

 still parts of rivers, and in ponds, pools, &c. that commu- 

 nicate with rivers, and near beds of candock weeds, 

 rushes, sedges, and retired places, in preference to rapid ; 

 currents, or whirling eddies*, for such unsettled places 5 

 Jack and Pike like not. 



Observe, when you take your bait out of the water (to 

 cast it into another place) that you draw it slowly and 

 gradually to the surface for that purpose, not snatch it 

 out, because Jack and Pike, when not very much on the 

 feed, will only strike at the bait when it seems to be 

 escaping from them : those who take their line out without 

 the above caution will often find a Jack strike at their 

 bait, and in their eagerness, sometimes, throw themselves: 

 out of the water after it, but by the quick movement of ; 

 the angler the Jack seldom hits the bait, and if he does, 

 he is generally so alarmed that he drops it again imme- 

 diately. This fact is well known to old anglers* 



When a Jack or Pike seizes your live-bait, it is gene- 

 rally with violence, and the float is instantly drawn under 

 water, therefore be sure to keep your eye steadily on it, 

 and also keep your winch and line free, always holding a 



