THE PIKK 263 



This I saw repeated two or three times on the same spot, and as I 

 firmly believe by the same fish ; so perceiving ray companion had 

 a prospect of employment for the rest of the afternoon, I left him 

 wishing him every possible success, and proceeded again to try my 

 fortune in the river. Knowing now that even if I got a run with 

 such baits as I then had, no pike would swallow them. I set to 

 work and rigged out some snap tackle, and with this I did manage 

 to lug out a small jack or two, when returning again to the lock 

 there I found my companion still assiduously trolling away at the 

 self same stand I left him, having as he informed me had several 

 runs in the meantime all terminating exactly as the first had done. 

 I then persuaded him to try my snap tackle, which he did and 

 got a run the very cast he made with it, and this time he after a 

 manner actually hooked the fish ; for the latter on his striking 

 gave two or three angry struggles, but soon after the hold giving 

 way away went he ; and could not be prevailed upon to run again. 



The next time I passed this lock hole, my bait a herring sprat, 

 I hooked and finally brought to land a jack between two and three 

 pounds weight, which I believe to be the identical fish that afforded 

 ray friend so many hours amusement, though he did not come up 

 to more than one sixth part of the dimensions he supposed him to 

 be ; but as I often tried the same spot afterwards, without ever 

 obtaining a run there, I consider my opinion was the correct one 

 after all. 



But notwithstanding I consider sea fish as baits inferior to 

 those that are found in the fresh water, yet as the latter cannot at 

 all times and seasons be procured, it becomes necessary to consider 

 what salt water fish can best supply their place. The best I know 

 of is a small basse, though sometimes I have been obliged to use 

 one of three quarters of a pound weight, and with even one of 

 these I have taken pike when unable to procure smaller ones. 

 The bright appearance of -the basse, and the firmness with which 

 the scales adhere to the body, causes it to maintain an appearance 

 of freshness after being sometime out of water. 



The next best bait is a small grey mullet ; and when I could 

 procure neither of these, I have often succeeded very well with a 

 good sized herring sprat, or even a full grown herring itself: the 

 great objection to both these latter baits is, that the scales soon 

 come off, when the bait acquires a dull and stale appearance ; on 

 which account I generally provided myself with an ample stock, 



