SPINNING. 191 



though that hold is neither so secure nor so safe for the 

 Fisher, because the fish in that heat of passion, may acci- 

 dentally take revenge upon his adversary, by letting him 

 blood in the Fingers, which way of phlebotomizing is not 

 esteemed so good." 



The justice of this latter observation will probably com- 

 mend itself to Pike-fishers without any very elaborate 

 argument. Indeed most of us would probably object to 

 attempting practically either one or the other of Nobbes' 

 ingenious methods. If neither a landing-net nor a gaff 

 is accessible, by far the best and safest method of landing 

 a Pike is to grasp him as tightly as possible behind the 

 shoulders, and either lift or throw him on the bank. 



In spinning, the gaff has a great advantage over the 

 net, inasmuch as it prevents the straming, and often 

 breaking of the flight, by the struggles of the fish in the 

 net. A Pike-fisher will generally find it both more 

 profitable and more amusing to gaff his own fish. 



Spinning-baits. 



To commence with the fresh, natural baits. Of all 

 the natural Pike-baits ordinarily used, the best, both 

 as regards perfection of spinning and durability is in- 

 contestibly the Gudgeon, and I believe that taking the 

 average of waters and weathers, it is also, of such baits, 

 the most killing all the year round. In clouded water 

 or very dark weather, a Bleak or small bright Dace or 

 Chub may, from their glittering scaling, possibly possess 



