1 84 THE PIKE 



gave up using gimp. All his tackle was mounted on 

 gut, which, of course, was bitten through from time 

 to time ; but he had so many more runs, that for a 

 time he became a firm believer in this very fine and 

 risky tack le. Fearing that some day he might hook 

 a monster, the pike of his lifetime, and have the 

 mortification of losing it, he reverted to gimp, but 

 during the gut period he certainly had the satisfaction 

 of catching more pike than other people.] 



