68 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. 



It requires some skill to put on a bait properly 

 so as to make it spin when played in the water, 

 but a little practice will soon effect this. The 

 length from the loop to the last hook should be 

 about eleven inches, and the trace about twenty- 

 two inches, having a swivel at each end and one in 

 the middle. The trace is also made of gimp, and 

 should have three or four rather large shots attached 

 to it. These will enable a young beginner to 

 throw his bait the more readily. 



With the above mentioned rod and tackle, half 

 a dozen good dead baits, either gudgeons, or dace, 

 but as nearly as possible the length of the sets of 

 hooks to be used, a knife with a small hammer at 

 the end to kill and crimp the pike when taken, 

 and a pair of scissors to extract the hooks from his 

 mouth, the troller may set to work. If he fishes 

 from a bank, mill-dam, meadow, or in short from 

 any place where his line is not liable to get en- 



