LIVE-BAITING 93 



being whipped on the gimp a little above it, the triangle 

 hanging down loose by the fish's side (see Plate VI, Figs, n 

 and 12, p. 93). As soon as the angler perceives a bite, giving 

 the fish half a minute or a minute to get the hooks well into his 

 mouth, but not time enough to pouch, he strikes. A float is 

 used with this tackle. Some anglers like a large pear-shaped 

 one (as shown in Plate II, Fig. 7, p. 49) I do not, as it is apt 

 to catch in any obstruction, and so lose you your fish a large 

 carrot-shaped or cucumber-shaped one is better. A single hook 

 thrust through the nose of the bait is often used ; but unless 

 the bait be of small size, as in paternostering, this is rather a 

 gorge bait, and time must be given for the fish to pouch to be 

 sure of getting the hook in his mouth. Others use a double 

 hook, or two hooks set back to back and tied on gimp. A 

 baiting needle is then hooked on to the loop of the gimp and the 

 point is introduced under the skin just behind the pectoral 

 fins of the bait, and the needle is run along towards the tail and 

 brought out above the vent, or a little nearer to the tail, and the 

 gimp is drawn through, so that part of the gimp and the 

 shanks of the hooks are hidden under the skin (see Plate VI, 

 Figs. 9 and 10, p. 93). This plan is only adopted when very 

 long throws requiring a good deal of force are required, as, if 

 any other mode of baiting is practised, the bait is apt to be 

 thrown off the hook by the force employed. It is a very cruel 

 plan, however. When such plans as there are adopted, as is 

 often the case by pot-hunting anglers with two or three or more 

 rods, I would ask what difference there is between them and 

 trimmer-fishing.* One can scarcely be held to savour more of 

 poaching than the other. 



A very killing plan, also much adopted, more particularly 

 by the Thames anglers, is to use a paternoster with a couple of 

 gimp hooks, and a bait on each. By this means every inch of 

 water can be thoroughly searched, but as, when the pike runs, 

 the lead or the spear hook and bait is apt at times to catch in a 

 stone or weed, the fish have a fairer chance of getting off than 

 with the float. Small baits and short law must, of course, be 

 the order of the day. Some people set their faces altogether 

 against the use of a live bait ; but when the snap style is used, 

 with a single bait, I do not think it is so objectionable, as I am 

 sure that if the fish are in the humour far more fish are actually 



* In fact, the above is trimmer-fishing in disguise, the rod being a sort of 

 neutral introduced to conceal enemies' goods, which are certainly contraband 

 of fishing thus employed. F. F. 



