8o A BOOK ON ANGLING 



they are very deadly, for I once used a double set of this kind 

 made of large mackerel hooks (having no others), and through- 

 out one whole day / killed every fish I struck* and they were 

 not few, numbering thirty-six. This took place at For ding- 

 bridge on the Avon, in Hampshire, many years since ; but 

 the whilom worthy host of the Star, Mr. Stewart, who wanted 

 the pike taken out of the stream, as they had almost destroyed 

 all the trout will, if still alive, well remember the slaughter of 

 that day ; the strike, however, would almost have broken 

 ordinary hooks and tackle. I had used a single set of small 

 brazed triangles the day before and lost a great number of 

 fish, and so resorted to these in desperation : almost every 

 stroke took one or two hooks clean through the jaws. Where 

 pike are at all shy, this tackle would be useless, as there was 

 visible more of the hooks than of the bait. If the angler 

 wishes to fish very neatly and without show, he can, if using 

 the white brazed triangles, wrap the silk lapping over with 

 stout silver foil. This will protect the silk from the fishes' 

 teeth, show little or nothing to alarm, and, if anything, lend 

 an attractive brilliancy to the bait. 



Before using any tackle composed of brazed triangles, the 

 angler should test each hook carefully, more particularly if 

 they are at all old or have been used and laid by for any length 

 of time, or if they show any trace of rust, as the brazing often 

 destroys the tempering of the hooks ; at least, I conclude so, 

 as I have frequently found hooks in the state I have mentioned, 

 though apparently stout and well looking, snap at the slightest 

 stroke, and many a good fish have I thus lost from neglecting 

 this necessary precaution. 



The simplest tackle in the way of triangles I have met with 

 is that used by the Nottingham spinners. It is composed of 

 only two triangles and a lip-hook. The lip-hook is a fixed one. 

 The loop of the gimp is passed up through the gill of the fish 



* Only twice in my life have I ever achieved this feat when I have had 

 any large number of fish run. The largest fish was ten pounds ; the rest 

 about three and four pounds eac,h. The day was very windy and boisterous, 

 and the fish hungry. Mr. Stewart and myself had as many fish to carry 

 home as we could manage. The set of hooks I used was very large, and 

 had three triangles on one side and one on the other. I gave the fish plenty 

 of time, and then struck them as hard as I could with safety to my rod. 

 Usually, the angler will find that upon a fair average he loses fully one- 

 third of the runs he has, if he keeps a fair and honest score. On some days 

 he will lose nearly a half when the fish run badly, on others of course much 

 this may be modified to some small extent by improved tackle, but 

 there will always remain a considerable percentage of scratched and lost 

 fish. F. F. 



