266 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



body and bring it out a quarter of an inch from the tail, leaving the 

 minnow as nearly as possible in the curve represented in the cut. The 

 object in having the minnow in a curved form is that it may turn round 

 when it is drawn against the stream, and this can be better accom- 

 plished by a small curvature than a large one. If the body of the 

 minnow is almost doubled up, the spinning is horrible to behold, and 

 much more likely to alarm than attract a trout. The smallest curva- 

 ture will do, and the hook should protrude freely. The upper hook 

 is then stuck through the lips, which completes the process, and the 

 angler should, before commencing, draw it through the water to see it 

 spins properly." 



PennelTs two devices are capital ones. The first represents his modi- 

 fication of the pike spinning tackle for which he has become so noted. 

 Anyone looking at the pike tackle can see how the affair is baited ; the 

 faint lines represent an additional triangle if such be desired. The other 

 is a very valuable sort of tackle for such anglers as throw from the reel. 

 It comprises a lead, which is inserted in the mouth of the bait, and thus 

 a definite weight is projected directly from the angler. 



The Francis tackle is also very good, as is that recently described 

 by Walton H. in the Fishing Gazette. Each device is amply described in 

 the section of the work devoted to the explanation of such matters. 



Spinning with the fan tail is a favourite method in some rivers, and 

 deserves notice here before adverting to artificial baits, for it can 

 hardly be termed an artificial lure. 



The tackle used for fan tail is of the same character as that used by 

 Stewart for the minnow, and, as will be seen, is shown with the bait 

 in situ. It is of use at the same time and under similar conditions as 

 the minnow, and by some it is even said this bait excels the minnow in 

 effectiveness. 



Artificial minnows (et hoc genus omne} are very convenient aids to the 

 spinner's art, but, no matter what may be said by even such an authority 

 on them as Wheatley, I cannot admit the artificial minnow to be in any 

 case more destructive than the natural bait. As with the natural fly, so 

 with the natural minnow. With characteristic egotism Mr. Pennell thus 

 refers to the minnow baited in his own style : "As compared with the 

 natural minnow baited and used as described, I am satisfied there is no 

 artificial imitation hitherto made public which is worth mentioning." 

 As was the case when these words were written, so is it, I maintain, 

 now. I will admit that, when Hewett Wheatley wrote, his baits were 

 superior in retaining power to the natural bait tackles then in use, but 

 it was chiefly because the arrangement of the hooks in such tackles was 

 exceedingly defective and unreliable. His, on the other hand, in the 



