GORGE-BAITING 91 



may be unhooked. To keep the fish's mouth safely open during 

 the operation is not an easy task. Mr. Rolfe, fish artist, 

 invented a machine for this purpose like to a pair of scissors 

 with a rack. By opening these in the fish's mouth and setting 

 the rack, the angler can poke out the hooks at leisure. When 

 he is quite free, knock him on the head with a short bludgeon 

 like a ship's trenail or a boat's rowlock, and put him in the 

 creel. 



There are many other ways of taking pike besides spinning. 

 Trolling with a dead gorge bait comes next, but it is not so 

 much practised now as formerly, as there is little which can 

 be done with it which cannot be done better with the spinning 

 bait. The only advantage it presents is that you can fish 

 amongst weeds which could not be fished with a spinning bait. 

 In Plate V, Figs. 5 and 6, page 78, will be found representa- 

 tions of a gorge hook baited and unbaited. The dead gorge 

 hook consists of two hooks fastened back to back ; the shanks 

 are then heavily laded, and are strengthened ad lib. by means 

 of a piece of stoutish twisted brass wire, made of various lengths 

 to suit various baits. The process of baiting is as follows : 

 Choose a bait a dace or gudgeon is the best cut off the 

 tail, and then slip the loop of the tackle into the eye of the 

 baiting needle (see Plate VI, Fig. 8, p. 93).* Put the needle 

 in at the mouth of the bait, push it through the centre of the 

 fish and out at the tail, and draw the lead down into the gullet 

 and stomach of the fish until the hooks are arrested at the 

 mouth and lie upon each side of it. Tie the tail tightly to 

 the gimp with thread, hook the eye of the gimp on to the line 

 by a swivel, and all is ready for action. It is worked thus : 

 Cast it into a hole, and let it sink ; then lift the point of the 

 rod and lower it constantly as the bait is drawn home : this 

 causes it to shoot along through the water more like a live 

 fish than even a spinning bait does. When a pike seizes it, 

 or a check is felt, line is given out and the fish carries it where 

 he pleases. As soon as he remains quiet he may be considered 

 to have commenced pouching that is, gorging or swallowing 

 the fish. The angler does not lay down his rod, take out his 

 watch, and wait five or even ten minutes to steady his excited 



* I invented some years since a little leathern machine for carrying 

 baiting needles and disgorgers ; as these implements are so easily mislaid 

 and difficult to find, that they are always missing when wanted. It was 

 simply buttoned on to one of the breast- buttons of the angler's coat, and 

 was thus always at hand. Mr. Bernard, of Piccadilly, took up the idea and 

 made several. F. F. 



