110 HARD STRIKING DESIRABLE. 



and of course the more the number of hooks is increased 

 the less chance there is of the barbs being buried, and 

 consequently the greater chance there is of the pike's 

 getting off the tackle. The angler may depend upon it 

 that the simpler the tackle, and the fewer hooks there are 

 in it (combined with a fair arming of the bait and a 

 reasonable chance of hooking the fish, of course), the 

 better. A great many pike do continually escape from 

 spinning tackle, and these are mostly the best fish ; and a 

 very hard stroke is required to send the hooks home 

 beyond the barbs if many and good-sized hooks are used. 

 I do not mean to say this is always so, because it may 

 happen that only one hook comes in contact with the 

 pike's jaw, but this is certainly exceptional. Another 

 reason for harder striking than would at first seem ne- 

 cessary is this : the pike, when he seizes the bait, takes it 

 across his jaws, that is, the head and tail protrude on 

 each side of his mouth. Savage perhaps with hunger and 

 rage, he drives his long tusks almost through the bait. 

 Now, the hooks being also buried in the bait, they must 

 either be torn out of it, or the bait be dislodged from the 

 firm grip of the pike's tusks, before the hooks can be 

 stuck into him. It often happens that the angler will 

 play a good pike for some minutes solely by the fish having 

 his teeth stuck deeply into the bait, and not having the 

 sense to open his mouth, or from his refusing to relin- 

 quish his prey. The first time he comes to the surface of 

 the water he gasps for breath, his huge mouth gapes, he 

 gives his head a shake and out tumbles the bait, hooks 

 and all, 1 not one of them having had hold. Away then 



1 Another reason why a pike is often thus held, is owing to the peculiar 

 shape of his teeth. Let the angler examine the mouth of a pike, and note 

 how it is made for holding. The tusks curve slightly backwards and in- 

 wards from the lower jaw, while all the upper teeth, particularly the 

 palatal teeth, are bent directly back towards the throat ; therefore the angler 



