BAIT-FISHING. 419 



the small hook in the back of the fish, near the back fin, 

 taking a good hold of the flesh, and allowing the point to 

 project a little way out of the skin, and the other two 

 hooks to lie one on each side of the belly. The mode in 

 which this acts is as follows : As soon as the pickerel seizes 

 the fish in its mouth, he pulls slightly on the line, which 

 causes the angler to strike, and this action draws the case 

 from the shanks of the hooks and allows them to expand 

 themselves, and thus prevent the pickerel from blowing the 

 bait out of his mouth. 



Pickerel are in season from May to February, but the 

 best time for the sport of taking them with the hook is the 

 period immediately before the weeds shoot, and again in 

 October when they have rotted. The latter is the true 

 pickerel season, as they are then firm and fleshy, and also 

 voracious, so as to afford good sport. This fish is usually 

 taken of good size in artificial waters, or in deep alluvial 

 rivers. In these situations there are almost always great 

 quantities of weeds, and when they exist in full vigor, it 

 is almost impossible to land large pickerel, even if they are 

 hooked. The bait also can scarcely, at such times and 

 situations, be properly manoeuvred; and hence, it is by 

 common consent considered that pickerel, though perfectly 

 edible, should not be angled for till after Michaelmas, from 

 which time till February the water is in good order for 

 their capture. This rule applies only to weedy streams. 



The mode of fishing for pickerel varies with the particu- 

 lar hook and bait employed. If the live bait is used with the 

 ordinary hook, it can only be successful at times when the 

 fish are voracious and ready for any bait, which, indeed, 



