RIVER FISH AND FISHING. 389 



the fish will be attracted by them, but will take the scoured 

 gentle on the hook in preference. 



Dead fish as baits are usually so arranged on the hooks 

 as to spin or rotate on their axis rapidly, by the action 

 of the current, or by drawing them through the water. 

 This is an unnatural motion, and unlike any movement of 

 any known inhabitant of the river ; nevertheless, it takes 

 well with many fish ; and, judged by that unerring crite- 

 rion, may safely be approved of and adopted. Minnows, 

 trout-tails, bream, shiners, and other small fish, are 

 thus used ; but the preference is always given to the two 

 first when they can be procured. There are various modes 

 of baiting with minnows and these small fish, and almost 

 every fisherman has his particular whims and oddities here 

 as well as in other matters connected with fishing. Noth- 

 ing could more completely disprove the necessity for the 

 adoption of any peculiar mode of baiting than the immense 

 variety in the plans of the most successful anglers. Some 

 use one hook, some two, some three, and others even four. 

 Some as for instance, Mr. Stoddart bait tail foremost 

 after removing the head ; others always take care to pre- 

 sent the head to the trout or pike. The great thing to be 

 attended to is to make the bait spin well, which can only 

 be done by producing a slight curve in its body, and by 

 making the line draw it on one side more than the other. 

 In this way, with one or two swivels, which prevent the 

 line throwing any impediment in the way, the bait rotates 

 rapidly if well applied, and the fish is deceived to his ruin. 

 When two hooks only are used, the extreme one is larger 

 than the other usually Nos. 3 and 5, English sizes and 



