24 ANGLING IMPROVED. 



For this kind of fish, your tackle must be strong, your 

 rod must not be very slender at the top, where you must 

 place a small slender ring for your line to run through ; 

 let your line be silk, at least two yards next the hook, 

 and the rest of strong shoe-maker's thread; your hook 

 double, and strongly armed with wire, for above a foot; 

 then with a probe or needle, you must draw the wire in 

 at the fish's mouth and out at the tail, that so the hook 

 may lie in the mouth of the fish, and both the points on 

 either side; upon the shank of the hook fasten some lead 

 very smooth, that it go into the fish's mouth, and sink 

 her with the head downward, as though she had been play- 

 ing on the top of the water, and were returning to the 

 bottom ; your bait may be small Roach, Dace, Gudgeon, 

 Loach, or sometimes a Frog; your hook thus baited, you 

 must tie the tail of the fish close and fast to the wire, or 

 else with drawing to and again, the fish will rend off the 

 hook, or, which I judge neater, with a needle and strong 

 thread, stitch through the fish on either side the wire, 

 and tie it very fast: all being thus fitted, cast your fish 

 up and down in such places as you know Pike frequent, 

 observing still, that he sink some depth before you pull 

 him up again. When the Pike rises, if it be not sunk 

 deep, you may see the water move, or at least you may 

 feel him ; then slacken your line, and give him length 

 enough to run away to his hold, whither he will go di- 

 rectly, and there pouch it, ever beginning, as you may 

 observe, with the head swallowing that first, thus let 

 him lie, until you see the line move in the water, and 

 then you may certainly conclude he hath pouched your 



