THE DRAG. 201 



Although many pike are taken with the Slant- and the 

 Spring-krok, infinitely more are captured with the common 

 rod and line, the latter being provided with a large cork-float. 

 The bait in this case, always a living one, is affixed to the 

 hook by the fleshy part of the back. In still water the bait 

 must necessarily be in degree stationary ; but in rivers the 

 fisherman allows the boat to drop stern foremost down the 

 stream keeping her the while as near to the reeds, and as 

 distant from the float as he can the chances being thereby 

 greatly increased of the bait being seen and seized by the 

 pike. 



FIG. 1. 



THE DRAG AND THE LEKAKE. 



The Drag (Fig. 1 ) was also greatly in use in my neigh- 

 bourhood, more especially for the capture of pike. 



This device is a rough imitation of a fish, its usual length 

 being about four inches, and its breadth about an inch. 

 The one side is concave, and the other convex ; and it 

 is somewhat curved, that it may spin the better in the 

 water. It is sometimes made of ivory, or even, of silver, 

 but much more generally of polished iron or copper. A 

 piece of stout wire, three to four inches long, is inserted 

 through the upper part, or supposed head of the fish, and 



