68 THE JOLLY ANGLER. 



twisted) gut, joined together by means of two small box 

 swivels, with one or two shots to sink it; or some use a 

 conical hollow piece of lead to slip down over the nose of 

 the bait, which I think is better. 



To bait the above, pass the large hook down the throat, 

 through the whole length of the body, and bring it out at 

 the tail of the minnow, then put the small hook through 

 the jaws of the fish, slide down the lead, f^see the cut,) and 

 it is now ready to put to your line. When you make shift 

 without the small hook, put the large one through the 

 lower and upper jaw, drawing three or four inches of gut 

 with it, and then pass it as before described, draw the gut 

 tight, and it is ready. This is a very inferior way; I should 

 not have mentioned it, had it not been that you can use it 

 when you have not the other tackle fitted up. 



Spinning a minnow is performed as follows: cast your 

 bait across or down the stream; then draw it towards you 

 for a yard or two, either against or across the current, and 

 it will spin round ; then let it sink a little, and repeat it, 

 until it wants throwing forth again. The most likely places 

 are currents, water-falls, mill-tails, weirs, &c. When at 

 a place where you stand on an eminence, first try close to 

 you, then let out four or five yards of line, and try again, 

 and so on, till you have let it down the stream as far as 

 your line will permit, which is the most likely way of 

 taking them, as they will not bite when they see you. 

 Some anglers use a small Bleak, but I think it inferior to 

 the Minnow, except for Salmon or Jack. I have taken 

 Chub, Jack, and Perch, by these means. For using a live 

 Minnow, see "the Perch." Observe, in spinning the 

 Minnow, the fish (if a Trout) will mostly hook himself, 

 but it is as well to strike the moment you feel or see a bite. 



There is an artificial bait much in fashion of late years, 

 commonly called a Devil, which is to be bought at any of 



