206 THE PIKE 



According to the latest and most approved system 

 of netting, the use of three nets, including a trammel, 

 a heavy drag net, and a stop or purse net, is recom- 

 mended for general work on a large scale. In small 

 waters and carriers the ordinary drag and stop nets 

 will, nevertheless,* answer the purpose, and there are 

 many men who still act on these principles. It is a 

 matter of the greatest importance that the lead lines 

 should be kept close to the bottom of the river, and 

 any undue haste on the part of the men must be 

 avoided, if no means of escape under the nets are 

 to be left open to the fish. 



No keeper should omit to carry a wire in his 

 pocket. Its services may be requisitioned at any 

 moment to effect the capture of stray pike which 

 may take up their temporary residence in a con- 

 venient spot for snaring them. There is scope 

 for much skill and judgment in pike wiring, and a 

 master hand has been frequently known to slay from 

 twenty to thirty pike of different sizes in a single 

 day. On a bright, calm morning in May or June, 

 before the May fly rise begins, the amateur pike 

 wirer may profitably pass his time away by exploring 

 the shallow brooks and by-streams on his fishery, 

 and keeping a sharp look out for any pike which may 

 be basking in the sun. Even if he does not succeed 



