194 



In such cases you have only to keep a tight line, ami 

 prevent his running among weeds. 



With respect to the choice of snap or gorging hooks, 

 you must be regulated entirely by the season of the year, 

 and by the waters in which the fishes lay. 



During the basking seasons, the jacks arc very shy 

 so far as relates to pouching, therefore the snap tackle is 

 tLen indispensable j it is also proper where you cannot 

 venture your line beyond a very limited length j for 

 instance, where you dip with a dead-lait, or have a live- 

 bait with a float, in small open breaks, at places where 

 the surface is generally covered with docks,, water, lay f 

 &c. in such waters you would not act prudently in giving 

 much line ; but if the season be appropriate in other res- 

 pects to the gorgi ng system, you may allow a little more 

 time before you strike, than you would in the basking 

 seasons. 



When you see a great number of very small bubbles 

 rising frcm the spot where you know, by the direction 

 of your line, the jack is laying, you should forbear from 

 striking ; it being a certain sign that he Las not pouched 

 your bait. I request the reader to refer to that chapter 

 which treats (< of bullies in the water," for a full dis- 

 cussion of this point. 



Jacks will sometimes take down the water-rat -, but, 

 whether owing to the resistance that animal makes, 

 which I have witnessed to be very tierce (and that too 

 .under the water), or that the h;iir or the scent dis- 

 pleases, I know not, however it does not appear they are 

 very partial to that quadruped. J have repeatedly seen 

 the rats pass such jacks as were obviously on the alert, 

 and of a good size too, without being attacked - } though 



the 



