1 96 Minnow-Fishing. 



rather than to court one, presenting so many points 

 of death to the fish, that even if it were willing to 

 die, it might let slip many a glorious opportunity 

 of so doing, ere it could finally decide in favour of 

 any. Without entering into the merits or demerits 

 of the tackle employed by others, I give a repre- 

 sentation of the various kinds which I consider the 

 best; and probably most anglers will be inclined 

 to think that the appearance they present, when 

 thus undraped, is sufficiently alarming. Neverthe- 

 less they are devised to suit all waters and condi- 

 tions of water, all times during day or night and 

 all seasons ; and my experience of their virtues en- 

 ables me to predict that they will be found equally 

 adapted to all the varying moods and appetites of 

 fish inclined to prey on their little neighbours. 

 The principle is the same in all, and has its 

 simplest illustration in Nos. 1 and 2. These differ 

 merely in the size of the hook to suit the different 

 sizes of bait which different conditions of water 

 demand. The other numbers, 3 to 6, are modifica- 

 tions of the first two, in so far as they are furnished 

 with small drag - hooks in strategic positions on 

 flank or in rear, where they are most likely to give 

 efficient support to the main ones, on which alone 

 in every case the minnow is baited. 



In fishing up-stream, with the water clear and 

 the sun bright, I use No. 1 tackle, composed of 



