ARTIFICIAL FROGS 



time, Mr. Bass, likewise Miss Trout (both wise, 

 alert, and discerning fish), will absolutely refuse 

 chunks of wood, rubber, or metal, of whatever shape 

 or however finely finished. They know as well as 

 we know, that such lures, tearing through the water 

 by them, are not food. Their action in taking them 

 is merely antagonistic caprice ; the lures in time will 

 cease to annoy and therefore utterly fail. 



This reasoning is sound; for when we miss a 

 strike, I know that we never get the same bass to go 

 for the lure a second time. When we cast again, 

 if taken, it is sure to be another bass. It is alto- 

 gether different with live bait. When a real min- 

 now, crab, or frog is gorged, the fish is ready and 

 willing for more ; the effect in its stomach is obvious 

 and most pleasing. It is very natural to suppose 

 that Mr. Bass is quite satisfied with but one trial at 

 a piece of wood. The dullest, most stupid animal 

 in creation would undoubtedly remember such a 

 base fraud. Bass are neither dull nor stupid, but, 

 as Dr. Henshall rightly says, "the gamest fish that 

 swims." 



Furthermore, to each of these pieces of wood is 

 attached from three to five treble hooks. It seems 

 impossible to imagine a true fisherman could be 

 found to face his gamy antagonist without a blush 

 of shame while using fifteen barbed hooks on a sin- 

 gle lure. The success of these lures must be very 

 doubtful from the fact that new and different pat- 



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