300 



FISHING IN AMERICAN WATERS. 



SPINNING-TACKLE FOR LIVE BAITS. 



the gangs of hooks ; 2d, the natural play of the bait when at- 

 tached to the gang ; and, 3d, the delicacy necessary to form 

 it an attraction instead of a warning. No. 1 represents an 

 adjustable gang, the movable upper hook sliding, and with a 

 half-knot fastening at the bend of the hook to the correct 

 length, to hold the fish by the lips and leave the gills free. 



Always use shiners for bait when they are to be had. In 

 impaling or affixing the minnow or shiner to the gang of 

 hooks, first insert the bottom hook nearly an inch above the 

 tail, and run it down and out at the tail, as represented by 

 No. 2, so as to curve the tail ; and, that the tail may have 

 precisely the correct curve, fix the next hook, at the top of 

 the shank of the large hook, in the skin at the side, so as to 

 hold the tail to the curve required ; then insert under the 

 skin the two middle hooks, which fasten more firmly the bait, 

 and confine it to the requisite curve. Then slide down the 

 lip-hook, or upper one, and insert it through both the lips of 

 the fish, shutting its mouth, but leaving the gills free for res- 

 piration. Take a half hitch with the snell round the shank 



