68 ANGLING FOR PIKE. 



small one a small lead, and more weight is necessary on the 

 trace in rivers than in lakes. It will be seen from the illus- 

 tration that these leads are easily shifted. No more swivels* 

 are required on the trace than those shown. 



Mr. Wood, of Bellwood, Ripon, a very successful pike- 

 fisherman, has invented a simple and useful lead for the 

 spinning trace. Out of sheet lead about yVi^- thick he cuts 

 small, oval pieces of various sizes, an average size being 

 about l]-in. long by lin. wide. These oval pieces are then 

 cut across the middle, and each forms two sinkers. They 

 are put on the line as a saddle is put on a horse, the pointed 

 end being, of course, uppermost, and when bent on are of the 

 shape shown in the annexed woodcut. I have 

 not given this lead an extensive trial, but 

 feel sure it is a first-rate invention, as it 

 prevents kinking, and is not easily seen by 

 the fish. They are very easily made. Bambridge, of Eton, sells 

 them, I believe, but they could be made by anybody. 



So much, then, for the materials of which the trace is 

 composed. Its proportions are usually as follows : Below the 

 lead, attached by a small loop to the lowest of the double 

 swivels, should be 3ft., or a trifle less, of gut or gimp, termi- 

 nated by either a large loop or a hook-swivel (see page 44). 

 Above the lead, and looped on to it as shown in Fig. 38, 

 should be 2ft. or 2iit.f of gut or gimp, which may, if you 

 please, be a trifle stouter than that below the lead. A some- 

 what neater arrangement is to have the gimp on which is 

 mounted the flight of hooks 3ft. or a trifle more, in length, 

 and attach the small loop at the end to the hook of the double 

 swivel shown in Fig. 38. 



We are sometimes so circumstanced that Farlow's Improved 

 Leads are not to be had when most wanted. What, then, is 

 to be done ? For answer, I say, put a swivel or two on 5ft. 

 of gimp, 3ft. from one end; take an ordinary pipe-lead, run 



* Messrs. AUcock & Son have recently made a great improvement in swivels by 

 inserting two collars or washers round the wire inside the box. 



t When trailing bait behind boats in large lakes, provided no casting has to be 

 done, the lead can, with advantage, be placed 4ft. or even 5It. from the bait. 



