ob ANGLING FOR PIKE. 



consequence to be dropped into the water tail first, and could 

 not be worked in small boles among weeds, as can ordinary 

 trolling-baits, wbicb dart down tbrougb tbe water head fore- 

 most. A snap trolling tackle was clearly a good idea, but 

 it had still to be perfected. I soon arranged a tackle satis- 

 factory in every respect but one — it necessitated the use of a 

 baiting-needle; but in the end I devised the tackle shown in 

 Fig. 50. On showing a sketch of this tackle to my friend, 

 Mr. R. B. Marston, Editor of the Fishing Gazette, I found that 

 he had worked out a very similar idea, in one respect much 

 better than mine, in another not quite so good, and that he had 

 given the tackle to Messrs. Hardy Brothers, of Alnwick, who have, 



Fig. 50. The Author's Snap Trolling Tackle. 



I believe, taken out a patent for it. The illustration very clearly 

 shows the construction, and method of baiting my tackle. The 

 spike is first thrust through the bait from head to tail, the gimp 

 is drawn through the eye at the end of the spike, and the top 

 triangle fixed in. If one triangle is fixed on one side of the 

 bait, about the middle, and the other is carried over the back, 

 and fixed near the shoulder on the other side, the tackle is more 

 certain than if the triangles are both on the same side. If the 

 tail is tied at its base with a piece of thread, the spike will not 

 tear out, as it sometimes does without this stay. I have only 

 fished with this tackle a few times, but it seemed a most certain 

 method of taking jack, smd every fish run was hooked and landed. 

 Mr. Marston's experiences with his tackle are similar. 



