'PIKE. 217 



required to hold the pike's mouth open. The 

 simplest kind is a wire gag, which costs a few 

 pence. Only a very unwise angler will try to use 

 his ringers for this purpose, and he will never do it 

 twice. A long disgorger is useful, and sometimes 

 a big knife. The disgorger should have a weighted 

 knob, so that it may kill the fish as well as take out 

 the hooks. Lastly, a long rush basket does very 

 well to hold the captives, and in it should be found 

 nothing under 4-lb. from the ordinary pike waters, 

 or under 81b. from the choice preserves. 



