THE SPINNING BAIT AND ITS TACKLE 145 



places where big pike may be hooked, such as the 

 wilds of Ireland or Sweden. 



One of the great charms of spinning is that, 

 thanks to sundry preservatives, one is independent of 

 any bait catching. When live-baiting for jack, it is 

 a common experience to get an invitation to fish 

 some water, with the assurance that there is no 

 necessity to bring any bait, because Tom and Dick, 

 the owner's sons, will go down to the lake overnight 

 or early in the morning and catch a canful of them. 

 It invaribly happens that Tom and Dick either go 

 ferreting or oversleep themselves, or the little fish 

 will not bite. The unfortunate pike fisherman then 

 has to hunt up the coachman to get some bran, 

 make up ground bait, and spend half the morning in 

 catching a few small roach or rudd. 



For a good many years now a few fishermen have 

 been using natural spinning baits which have been 

 preserved in methylated spirit ; but the comparatively 

 recent introduction of formalin, or formic aldehyde, 

 for this purpose has made the preserved bait exceed- 

 ingly popular, not only for pike, but also for trout and 

 salmon. Very fine minnows, gudgeon, dace, sprats 

 all are now obtainable at the tackle-shops, nicely 

 put up in wide-mouthed bottles, and as bright and 

 natural looking as if they had been caught the day 



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