TO BAIT EEL HOOKS. 93 



fit your line with a stout loop swivel to hang the hook 

 link on, k is better than any other way ; about two or 

 three inches above the loop or swivel place a bullet on 

 the line to sink the bait. (See the cut.) The proper 

 hooks for this mode of Eel-fishing, are single or double 

 mall sized Eel hooks. The single when a worm or 

 piece of Lamprey is used for a bait ; and the double, 

 when a small fish is used for a bait. Small Roach, Dace, 

 Bleak, or Gudgeons, about four inches long, are all proper 

 baits, and also Millers Thumb, Stone Loach, and pieces 

 of Lamprey Eels ; but small Gudgeons and Bleak I prefer 

 for baits to every other. 



When you bait the hook with either of the above enu- 

 merated fish, take a baiting needle and fix it to the loop 

 of the gimp, or what the hook is tied to, enter the point 

 of the needle in the bait fish's mouth and bring it out at 

 the tail, and draw till the hooks are brought to lay close 

 on each side the bait's mouth (see the cut); now tie the 

 bait fish just above the tail with fome strong thread to 

 keep the gimp or whatever the hooks are fastened to, 

 from drawing the hooks out of their proper place or posi- 

 tion, and all will be right. If you bait with Lamprey, 

 they should be pieces about one or two inches long. 



Note. That part which contains the roe is the most 

 enticing pieces. I have not found Lamprey a good bait 

 for Eels, in any other rivers but those into which the tide 



