THE PIKE, JACK, OR LUCE. 155 



of my name, now the best trowler for pike in the realm, he laid a wager 

 that he would take a pike of four feet long within the space of one 

 month with his trolling rod. So he trowld three and od days, and took 

 a great many pikes nigh the length, till within the space of three days 

 from the time, then he took one and won the wager." 



Next in order of date comes our friend Nobbes. The trolling hook of 

 Nobbes is noticeable as being, with but little alteration, identical in shape 

 with the most popular form in modern use. The engraving which is 

 published in his book is before me now, and, to use the words of the 

 author of the " Book of the Pike," have " remarkable similitude to the 

 tail of the dragon which St. George has been represented as transfixing 

 for so many centuries " in truth, the cut is coarse and the hook ill- 

 made, but it is possessed of no wire shank, which many makers even now 

 imagine necessary to retain the shape of the bait, but which I un- 

 hesitatingly affirm is unnecessary and, indeed, absurd. There are many 

 works following after that of Nobbes, which more or less refer to 

 trolling, but I forbear quotation, as my only object is to trace its history 

 and show my readers the esteem in which the method has been held. 

 Amongst others may be mentioned "Chatham's Vade Mecum," 1681; 

 "Blower's Gentleman's Eecreation," 1636, and the "True Art of 

 Angling," 1696. From the latest of these dates to the present time, 

 trolling has come in for a vast share of popularity, a most curious work, 

 entitled " The Innocent Epicure," 1697, treats of trolling with a poetical 

 flourish of trumpets, which is exquisitely funny. 



Go on, my muse, let next thy number speak, 

 That mighty Nimrod of the streams, the pike. 

 Oh ! angler, here much caution use and care, 

 If once thy bait be gorge, alas ! beware. 

 Thy rod, thy lines, thy nooks are all too small 

 The tyrant's strong, and rudely forces all. 

 A stiff, neat, nine-foot role you must prepare, 

 Which may in several things repay your care. 



A dace, a gudgeon, or a stone loach take, 

 Or, wanting these, some happy trial make 

 Of something else of the less usual kind. 



Baited like this, you need not fear your prize, 

 True glutton-like, his stomach rules his eyes. 



The opening exhortation to the Muse to go on is very happy. The 

 poet's " divine afflatus " is but badly regulated in the poem. At times 

 he sports on Parnassus, and lights, lobworms, Venus and her doves, 

 gentles, greaves and garbage are alternately food, as Artemus Ward 

 would say, for "his too too poetic soul." 



Another poet, John Whitney, close on the eighteenth century, also 

 broke forth into jubilant singing anent trolling, thus 



First from the brook I take 



A gudgeon, roach, or chevin for my bait, 



