40 ANGLING FOE PIKE. 



Every reader of this book wlio aspires to be an angler 

 should know how to bind on a hook, or make up any kind of 

 jack-tackle. To finish ofE bindings in the middle of the tackle, 

 where the plan above described cannot be followed, the same 

 result can be effected by laying a penholder, pencil, or even 

 one's finger along the binding, taking three turns of the 

 binding silk round it and the thing to be bound, passing the 

 end under the coils (see Fig. 19), removing the pen, or finger, as 

 the case may be, and pulling the coils tight. The last thing 

 to do is to pull the end tight. A knowledge of these two 

 methods of fastening off bindings will frequently be found 

 extremely useful. 



Sundries. — Among the sundries, I need only now mention 

 wax and silk. The wax used by cobblers is far the best for 

 fishermen. A small portion should be held in a piece of leather 

 when being used. In hot weather cobblers' wax keeps best in 

 water. The best silk for bindings, &c., is not ordinary sewing- 

 silk, but a superior quality, which is sold for use with sewing- 

 machines, and has, on that account, to be strong. I frequently 

 tie on triangles with ordinary thread, but am inclined to think 

 the binding of the future will be fine, soft, copper wire. 



A creel, unless of immense size, is not much use to the 

 pike-fisherman. A bag is better, for it takes up no room 

 when empty. The ordinary twill pike-bag sold at fishing- 

 tackle shops is greatly improved by having the side next the 

 body of the angler faced with a piece of waterproof cloth. 

 A small waterproof pocket inside or outside the bag will be 

 found very useful to contain tackle, winch, &c. I will not 

 indicate any special make of bag as being the best, but 

 leave the reader to provide himself according to his fancy, 

 only let the bag be capable of holding at least 701b. of fish, 

 and let the webbing which crosses the shoulder be broad. 



Dress. — Stout waterproof boots (knee high* if the angler 

 does much bank-fishing in winter) and all-wool garments, is 

 sound and sufficient advice to the pike -fisherman on the 



* Light indiarubber wading-boots, lined with felt, are sold, which are very 

 comfortable and warm for winter-flshing. 



