TROLLING WITH THE DEAD GORGE BAIT. 203 



which occurs with the ordinary hook, and which renders 

 it necessary to tie the gill-covers down to prevent their 

 catching or tearing in the weeds. It also avoids the 

 necessity of sewing up the lips of the bait to prevent the 

 hooks slipping or shifting. 



This is a decided saving of time and trouble, and, 

 moreover, makes the bait last longer by being less 

 strained. The darting and glancing motion which it 

 should have is also increased by the placing of the lead 

 in the proper place — the belly. 



A still better method of weighting the gorge bait is by 

 forming the lead oi pierced sJiotj simply threaded on the 

 gimp attached to the hooks, and graduated in size so as 

 to resemble the solid lead in shape. A weight of this 

 kind has the advantage of being quite soft to the teeth 

 of the Pike when seized, and thus gets rid entirely of the 

 *' lead stiffening" in the bait's belly. 



Perhaps, however, the greatest advantage incident to 



this tackle, used either with the solid lead or pierced 



shot, is the saving of time and annoyance in fixing the 



tail when baiting. This is accomplished as follows : — 



First cut the tail-fin of the bait qff close to the flesh ; then with a baiting 

 needle pass the gimp in at the mouth and out again by the tail of the 

 bait as usual, taking care to bring it out as nearly in the centre of the 

 tail as possible: then pass the baiting needle laterally through the bait's 

 tail, at about a quarter of an inch from the extremity, drawing the gimp 

 through after it ; and finally pass the end of the gimp through the loop 

 thus made at the extremity of the bait (see figure 2 ot plate) and draw 

 it tight. A sort of half knot is thus formed which never slips, and 

 which can be untied in a moment when a fresh bait is required. 



