SNARING AND TRIMMERING PIKE. 123 



no\v done to perfection in the small streams which drop 

 into the Ouse in Huntingdonshire, and in the large ditches 

 and drains in the fens, about Ely, Soham, Whittlesea, etc. 

 etc. A strong, short, stiff, ashen bough, or rough rod 

 about ten or twelve feet in length is generally used for 

 this purpose. From the thinner end of it is suspended a 

 thread of copper wire, about three feet in length with a 

 running noose, kept wide open. This wire must be previ- 

 ously burnt in hay ; which renders it ductile and pliable as a 

 thin piece of lead, and takes off all the shine. When the pike 

 is discovered basking in the water, the noose is cautiously 

 slipped over the head of the fish an operation requiring 

 considerable dexterity, owing to the refraction of the 

 water, and, as soon as it clears the gills, a sharp jerk fixes 

 the snickle, and the fish is dragged out of the water by 

 main force, the wire cutting deep into his flesh when the 

 pike is large. Hundreds are taken in this manner in 

 calm sunny days, when the fish are basking in still water, 

 and can be easily seen. 



The TRIMMER is a fatal weapon, more destructive than 

 any other, but utterly unworthy of a sportsman. It re- 

 quires no skill, no patience, and very little attention ; well 

 adapted to poachers, and very convenient to gamekeepers. 

 A double hook, with a twisted wire shank about five 

 inches long, having a loop at the end, must be baited 

 with a bright shining roach, or gudgeon, alive or dead, it 

 does not much signify which. The wire must be put 

 down its throat, and drawn through at the vent, the 

 hooks being neatly placed 011 either side the mouth, with 

 the points downwards. This wire must be attached to a 

 strongish line of common twine about sixteen or twenty 

 yards in length. About three or four feet above the 



