214 



Minnow-Fishing. 



it is fixed on the hook, the minnow lives for a con- 

 siderable time, swims about vigorously, and forms 

 an object of attraction to hungry eyes. But on 

 the whole, it is vastly inferior to the spinning min- 

 now, inasmuch as the amount of water fished in 

 any given cast is comparatively small, and conse- 

 quently the loss of time is needlessly great. This 

 style of angling is adapted for all seasons, and some- 

 times results in the capture of big fish. "When the 

 water is black, it is advisable in this, as in all other 

 methods of minnow-fishing, to use large baits. 



Tackle-makers have exercised great ingenuity in 

 devising substitutes for the natural minnow, and it 

 cannot be denied that they have often been toler- 

 ably successful. These artificial baits are of vari- 

 ous materials, and all the kingdoms of nature have 

 been laid under contribution to produce them. We 

 have them of gutta-percha and india-rubber, of horn 

 and bone, of zinc and tin, of glass and canvas. 

 Those commonly in use are much too large, and in 

 any case they are not nearly so valuable a bait as 

 the natural minnow. When the river has subsided 

 to some extent after a flood, and just as it is be- 

 coming black the favourite time for all minnow- 

 fishing the phantom may do some execution for a 

 few hours. Success may sometimes attend its use 

 in " small " clear water on sunny days with a strong 

 breeze, and it may then be fished either up-stream 



