THE PERCH. J, 01 



nooks for the dead snap, when four are used. Fig. .9 shows 

 the manner of placing the three-hook dead snap ; and fig. 10 

 the hooks baited. These are well adapted for both shallow 

 and deep waters, as well as to the still and rapid parts of a 

 river ; and will take pike at all seasons of the year, if the 

 water and weather are favourable ; and it will be no trifling 

 recommendation, that the idea of cruelty; which the use of a 

 live fish naturally impresses, is, by this substitute, completely 

 removed. The rod should be longer than for trolling ; the 

 line fine, strong, and twenty yards in length. The hook 

 which is most generally preferred, is like that of the common 

 live snap, plate xvi. fig. 8 ; the length of the gimp on which 

 the hook is tied, should be regulated by the size of the bait, 

 and ought to be rather longer than the distance of the back 

 fin to the mouth ; that tlie looped end may be hung on a 

 strong swivel, tied neatly to about a foot more of gimp, with 

 a noose at the other end to hang it upon the line, fastening 

 a piece of lead of the shape of a barleycorn, and weighing 

 about an ounce, with a hole through it, two inches above the 

 swivel. The bait should be a middle-sized dace. Insert the 

 baiting-needle (see plate xvii. fig, 11) close behind the back 

 fin, letting it come out at the mouth ; draw the gimp, to 

 which the bait is tied, after it : the short hook must be 

 placed with the point upright behind the back fin, the others 

 will be, consequently, at each side ; then hang it upon the 

 swivel, and try if it will spin ; if it does not, move the bait 

 a little to the right or left : (which may be done without re- 

 moving it from the hook :) the whole success depends on its 

 quick turning when drawn against the stream, and when it 

 does, it appears like a fish unable to escape, and becomes too 

 tempting a morsel for the pike to resist. This method will 

 not only enable the angler to fish a greater extent of water 

 ihan the others, but is more certain to secure the pike. The 



