32 



The Gentle Art of Angling. 



and down of the float caused by 

 a lively bait ; it is easily distin- 

 guished from the run of a pike, 

 which is shown in the cork going 

 down to stay. When this hap- 

 pens, the first thing to do is to 

 tighten up the line. This is 

 essential to efficient striking. If 

 it is not taut, it is more than 

 probable that an abortive tug 

 will be given to the bait, which 

 will not hook the quarry, and 

 only succeed in scaring him. It 

 must be borne in mind that float, 

 lead, and the weight of line make 

 considerable dead weight. The 

 strike must be vigorous enough 

 to counterbalance it, and leave 

 a sufficient margin over to draw 

 the hooks from the bait, and 

 transfer them to the pike. The 

 hold of the latter will probably 

 include part of the snap tackle. 

 It is best to tighten up the line 

 until there is a slight drag on it, 

 and the jack's resistance is felt. 

 That is the time to strike de- 

 cisively, and hooking generally 

 follows. 



In fishing a hole the near bank 

 should be tried first, keeping well 

 out of sight, then further out, 

 searching every spot in turn to 

 the opposite bank. Playing the 

 fish requires tact ; the great thing 

 is to keep him under control, 

 letting the winch run when he 

 plunges, and firmly declining to 

 allow him to rush into weeds or 

 foul the line in a bush. When 

 played out the gaff is brought 

 into requisition. 



I give an illustration of an 

 excellent gaff made by Messrs. 

 C. Farlow and Co. It is tele- 

 scopic, handy to carry, and ex- 

 tended is 4 feet long ; closed, 16 in. 

 It can be carried on Farlow's 

 " Registered safety hook ring," 

 which is pinned on the coat, and 

 is preferable to a strap. It is so 

 light as to be no encumbrance. 

 It is made of the finest steel, and 



strong brass extensions, which 

 are rust proof. It will be found 

 a most convenient and useful 

 weapon. 



If the jack is takeable, it should 

 be killed, which will expedite the 

 extraction of the hooks. For 

 this purpose a gag must be used, 

 which prises open the jaws. 

 There are several patterns, " Jar- 

 dine's," " Bickerdyke's," and non- 

 descripts which may be procured 

 at any tackle makers. The hooks 

 will be probably deep set and far 

 in ; by the use of a disgorger they 

 can be easily extracted. The 

 latter should be 9 to 12 in. long, 

 so that if the instrument slips off 

 the hook, the hand may not be 

 carried against the sharp teeth. 



Live baiting is an autumn and 

 early winter method of angling. 

 There is not much spinning until 

 the frosts cut away the weeds. 

 A little practice in casting is 

 necessary to place the bait in the 

 runs between reeds and rushes, 

 and other spots likely to hold 

 E. Indus. It is pleasant enough 

 work on a mild autumn day ; but 

 it is cold comfort when the winter 

 blasts cut around one's ears and 

 almost chill the blood. Then the 

 more vigorous exertion that spin- 

 ning affords is preferable. 



By means of the paternoster, 

 places can be fished where live- 

 baiting and spinning for pike 

 would be impossible. In the 

 early autumn months, before the 

 river is clear of weeds, this is a 

 deadly method of angling. Pike 

 lie in weedy coverts at this season 

 of the year, which serve the pur- 

 pose of a shady retreat and a 

 happy hunting ground. Live bait 

 soon get hung up in the weeds, 

 and look like dead fish. Pike 

 do not put themselves out of the 

 way for anything that does not 

 show signs of vitality. With the 

 paternoster the bait is anchored 

 to one spot, and its movements 



