390 MANUAL FOR TOTING- SPORTSMEN/ 



they are -whipped on the same piece of gut or gimp, at an 

 interval of about half an inch clear between them. A bait- 

 ing needle is required for most of these hooks, but here it is 

 not necessary, as the larger hook is passed through the 

 mouth and out at the root of the tail, so as to leave the 

 barb free. When this has been done nicely, the minnow 

 assumes a bent form, corresponding with that of the hook, 

 and if properly put on, it will spin or rotate when rapidly 

 drawn through the water. But for this purpose its mouth 

 must be closed mechanically, and this is effected either by 

 a leaden cap which slips down over the line, or by the sec- 

 ond hook being passed through both lips, and thus holding 

 them shut ; or sometimes, in addition, by a few stitches 

 with a fine needle and thread. Colonel Hawker recom- 

 mends a hook or two to be allowed to float loosely and 

 openly by the side on a stout piece of gut, but I cannot 

 advise their adoption. The usual mode of employing the 

 third hook is to whip it on to a piece of gut about an inch 

 long, and then to include this gut in the whipping of the 

 second or smaller hook, which it should also match in size. 

 This third hook then, lies closely adapted to the side of 

 the bait, but not floating loosely, as advised by Colonel 

 Hawker. The two first are applied exactly in the same 

 way as when two hooks only are used, when the third will 

 lie flat against the side of the bait, and retains its position 

 there by the stiffness of the gut or gimp. This last form 

 is used for the application of the celebrated parr-tail as a 

 bait, which is much used in Scotland; and is strongly 

 recommended by Mr. Stoddart, one of the highest author- 

 ities on the subject. He advises all the fins and tails to 



