134 HINTS ON ANGLING. 



with as little unnecessary gear as possible. When you 

 fish in parks and pet- waters, it is another matter; but 

 who will compare this sort of amusement, with the labori- 

 ous healthy sport derivable from following open rivers, 

 and working free unexclusive streams? 



It is sometimes advisable to bait a few gorge-hooks, 

 previously to starting, as they will save trouble on an 

 emergency, and probably be sufficient for a day's sport. 

 Put them, when baited, into a little bran, and they will 

 keep stiff and fresh until you want them. 



There are various opinions about the sort of bait which 

 is best adapted for the pike. Some recommend frogs; 

 some roach, dace, gudgeon, bleak, minnows, and even 

 perch with the back fin cut off. Some again maintain, 

 that mice, birds, bats, etc., are accepted as dainties; whilst 

 others have affirmed, that eels cut up into small bits are 

 perfectly irresistible. 



" Who shall decide when doctors disagree?" All these 

 opinions are most probably the result of observation, and 

 are founded on fact ; but the observations have not been 

 sufficiently strict, and the facts have been too liberally 

 generalised. The truth perhaps is, the pike-fisher goes out 

 on some particular day, unprovided with his accustomed 

 favourite bait, whatever that may be. The day turns out 

 to be highly favourable, and the fish are running wild. 

 In his destitution, he baits with anything he can get, frog, 

 mouse, or eel, the first that comes to hand ; he has an 

 excellent day's sport, and goes away under the full persua- 

 sion that he is indebted to the bait for all his good luck. 

 No such thing. The day was favourable; the fish were 

 ravenously hungry ; and, in all probability, any other bait in 

 the catalogue would have done just as well. The best bait 

 must surely be that which will most universally attract 



