With and <A gainst tbe Grains 25 



off. The switch with its fish could instantly be 

 dropped from the left hand if occasion demanded, 

 and there was no danger of a newly taken captive 

 making off, for a fish removed from grains has not 

 much music left in it. 



Successful use of the grains after a fish was dis- 

 covered was not so easy, despite statements from 

 the opposition that no skill was required. Of course, 

 almost any fool could strike a fish if it lay quiet in 

 very shallow water. Under these conditions a rap 

 from a club would be just as efficient as a spear- 

 thrust. But pike are not given to half stranding 

 themselves for the accommodation of their pursuers. 

 Fish seen lying motionless were generally at the 

 bottom of some deep pool, or beneath some log or 

 other shelter likely to interfere with the grains. 

 When a man could get directly over a fish, the 

 spearing was easy, provided the man worked cau- 

 tiously and correctly estimated the depth of water. 

 The surest way, in anything more than a foot and a 

 half of water, was to silently dip the spear till the 

 points were within about six inches of the quarry's 

 shoulders. A swift jab would then be almost cer- 

 tain. 



But woe to the man who fiddled too long, or was 

 careless in his movements. A fish can get away 

 from a standing start with astounding speed, and 

 our pike is one of the sprinters of his kind. Lean, 

 long, and slimy, he is a javelin of fishdom, and his 

 lightning dart will baffle all but the best trained 

 eyes. 



Throwing the grains so as to strike a moving fish 

 requires a ready arm and quick, accurate calcula- 



