PIKE-FISHING. 29 



inside of the wheel should not be less than five eighths 

 of an inch. 



Your line may he of any common material, so 

 that it is strong, and should he about sixty yards long, 

 and have a very large loop at the end ; so that the 

 tackle, fig. 2, when the bait is fixed on it, may pass 

 freely through this loop. And now to prepare for 

 fishing. Having put your rod together, pass this loop 

 through the ring at the top of the rod, and loop on 

 your tackle (fig. 2), with the dead bait tied in it, as 

 in fig. E ; place the remainder of the line in coils on 

 the ground, but be careful not to coil too much in one 

 place, as it would get entangled when you make a 

 throw. Now take the rod in your right hand, and 

 place the butt firmly against your hip, and be careful 

 to hold the line in your left hand until you throw, but 

 the moment you throw, you must open your left hand, 

 and let the line run freely through it, and when the 

 bait is gone as far as you intended, haul in the line 

 again with your left hand, letting it fall in coils on the 

 ground, but not too much in one place. In hauling 

 in your line, you should work the top of the rod occa- 

 sionally, and give as much action to the bait as possi- 

 ble, that it may have the appearance of being alive. 



