34 



ANGLING FOR PIKE. 



Fig. 11. The Jardine Gag 

 (Patent). 



we require, first of all, some instruinent to keep its mouth open. 



For this purpose there is no- 

 thing better than the gag shown 

 in Fig. 11. It was invented 

 and patented by Mr. Alfred 

 Jardine. The knob D, at the 

 end, is used to knock the fish 

 on the head before the gag is 

 inserted. E, F, which are close 

 together, are inserted in the 

 pike's mouth. B is then held 

 in the left hand, and the 

 handle A is turned round, 

 when F works down the spiral 

 rod, C, C, and, of course, the 

 pike's mouth can be opened 

 to the widest extent. This 



luxurious machine is made in smaller sizes for large trout and 



for salmon, and is no doubt kept in 



stock at the principal tackle-shops. I 



advise every pike -fisherman to obtain 



one of these most useful instruments. 



I have often been bitten by pike for 



want of a gag. An instrument known 



as pike-scissors is sold for the same 



purpose, but it is not so useful as 



Mr. Jardine's gag. 



The mouth open, we next want a dis- 



gorger. The best thing of the kind for 



pike is the one with a corkscrew handle 



shown in Fig. 12. If the handle is of 



very hard wood, or is weighted with 



lead, it can be used to knock the 



pike on the head, an operation which 



should always be performed before any 



attempt is made to remove the hooks. 



Bait-can. — For holding live baits 

 a can is necessary, and the very best 





Fig. 12. Disgorger. 



