420 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



again, and stitch the edges down with a needle and strong waxed silk or 

 Holland thread. The bait is then complete." 



This bait is said to be best made from an eel that has been salted seme 

 two or three weeks. I have, however, made it from a fresh eel repeatedly, 

 and it has answered in a satisfactory style. Its general hue is a pale 

 blue, and pike are very fond of it, especially if it be spun in clear water. 

 A smaller make, which can also be constructed out of the " sand 

 pride," or small lamprey, is a capital bait for trout. A swivel is best 

 connected to the head of the bait, and a loose triplet hook is slipped over 

 the gimp and on to the bait, as shown in Pig. 35. 



The two former of these tackles described can be made in a smaller size 

 for trout, perch, and salmon of course. In such case, and because trout 

 frequently run short, as it is said, it is desirable to slip on 

 a pendant triplet after this pattern(Fig. 36). 



This ought to be so placed when making the flight that 

 it extends behind the tail, not hooked into the bait. 



There has been in times past some discussion as to the 

 sporting morality of the use of a pendant triplet such as that 

 figured in the engraving. It has been said that flying triplets 

 partake of the natue of " foul " hooks, or, in other words, if 

 a fish is captured without having really taken the bait, then 

 is its hook foul. This is a rather nice question, and al- 

 though I suggest the use of a pendant when, as is occasion- 

 ally the case, the fish are out of shyness running short, I am 

 not sure that I like the use of it under any other circum- 

 stances. It is very annoying to find Master Trout con- 

 tinually striking at the bait and missing it by an inch or less, 

 PENDANT and if such a device ensures a full creel, I am not prepared 

 LBT " to deny its legitimacy. It rather seems to me that the score 

 on which an unnecessary multiplication of hooks is to be condemned is 

 rather that of the resultant chance of difficulty in striking them home, 

 i.e., over the barb. As I before pointed out, it is abundantly provable 

 that it is easier to effectually hook a fish with one hook than with 

 many. 



With the tackles enumerated the angler may be confident that he has 

 the best that are known. In a work of this nature it would be obviously 

 unnecessary to describe and give illustrations of inferior arrangements. 

 Those given are the three best (including the Thames flight, of course) 

 for pike, large trout, and salmon, according to my score years of ex- 

 perience on the best waters of this kingdom. 



It must not be thought, however, that they are unassailably best for 

 trout when a minnow is used as bait. PennelTs contrivance, good as it 



