PIKE. 2 1 3 



lower one is inserted either under the pectoral tin 

 or in the corner of the gill cover. The float which 

 one sees in common use is often unnecessarily 

 large. For gudgeon and small dace one does not 

 need a float bigger than a plover's egg, but for very 

 big baits a larger one is sometimes required, more 

 to carry the weight of lead needed to keep the 

 bait down than because the bait is likely to pull 

 the float under, except just at first; then quite a 

 small dace will make the float disappear, but it 

 soon comes up again. If it does not, a pike has 

 probably lent his assistance, and it is well to 

 strike. 



Besides the big float, one wants a "' pilot float" 

 or two. These are little round cork beads, which 

 are strung on the line above the float. When the 

 bait is cast out they usually fly up the line, and in 

 ideal circumstances, when a long cast has been 

 made, one pilot will be about ten yards from the 

 float and the other twenty. Thus the line is buoyed 

 up and kept from sinking. The ideal is not always 

 to be attained ; and sometimes the pilots insist on 

 clinging together like brothers ; sometimes they 

 even refuse to leave the big float. But in general 

 they behave fairly well, especially in a side breeze. 

 When pilots are not used,_as in a narrow river, it is 

 well to treat the line with Gishurstine or deer's fat, 



