38 FLY-FISHING. 



will not take a stale fish. When you have a run, that 

 is, when a pike seizes your bait, you must give him a 

 quarter of an hour before you strike him, as these fish 

 generally hold the bait in their mouth a short time 

 before they swallow it. As he pulls, you must allow 

 the line to run freely until the quarter of an hour is 

 expired, when you may strike him and get him out 

 as you can. When the pike run large, you will find 

 it requisite to have a gaff-hook with you : but this 

 fishing with the gorge is but dull sport at the best of 

 times. 



To prevent your trolling-lines from kinking, you 

 should stretch them well, in the following manner. 

 Unwind your line, and lay it at full length upon the 

 ground, then make one end fast to something ; next, 

 take a round stick, and turn the line once or twice 

 round it, about two feet from the end where it is made 

 fast, and then taking either end of the stick in each 

 hand, you must walk slowly backwards until you come 

 to the other end. This may be repeated, should you 

 think the line not sufficiently stretched the first time. 

 After having stretched it, you may wind the line on a 

 pliable card-board, or the cover of a book, and when 

 all is wound on, by gently bending the card or book- 



