89S MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



and out at the middle of the tail, drawing the gimp and 

 liook after it, fixing the point of the hook near the eye of the 

 fish ; tie the tail to the gimp, which will not only keep it in 

 a proper position, but prevent the tail from catching against 

 reeds and roots in the water ; thus baited, the hook is to bb 

 fastened to the line, and dropped gently in the water, near 

 the sides of tlie river, across the water, or where it is likely 

 pike resort . Keep the bait in constant motion, sometimes 

 letting it sink near the bottom, and gradually raising it. 

 The angler need not make more than two or three trials in 

 one place, for if a pike be there, he will, within that time, 

 bite, if he means to do so. When the bait is taken, if at a 

 depth too great to see, it will be easily ascertained by the 

 line being drawn tight, and by some resistance. Let the 

 pike have what line he chooses, it will be soon known when 

 he has reached his harbour, by his not drawing more ; allow 

 about five minutes to elapse, so that he may gorge the bait : 

 then wind up the line until the pike is seen ; (which he fre- 

 quently permits, though he has not gorged the bait ;) should 

 the bait be across his mouth, give more time ; but if he has 

 swallowed it, manage him with a gentle hand, keeping him. 

 however, from roots and stumps, as the line may there get 

 fastened. In clear water veer out line until he is sufficiently 

 tired, and a landing-net can be used ; but by no means, how- 

 ever apparently exhausted, attempt to lift him out with the 

 rod and line only, for the moment he quits the water, he will 

 open his mouth, and from his own weight tear the hook from 

 his stomach, and the fish will be lost. 



In trolling, the bait should never be thrown too far ; in 

 small rivers, the opposite bank may be fished with ease, and 

 the violence of the fall of the bait upon the water in excessive 

 throws, soon spoils it, by rubbing off its scales, and alarms the 

 pike instead of enticing him. In some places pike are taken 



