124 OX PLAYING. 



be able to decide the question at once. If he has reason to 

 believe that the check proceeds from a fish, he must strike 

 directly and straight back and firmly, holding his fish 

 rather tightly for the first few seconds, so as to embed the 

 hooks in the pike's hard mouth before letting him work his 

 wicked will ; he can then ease him a little, and play him 

 to the best of his ability. Some anglers, when they feel a 

 run, give the fish a few seconds; this is quite optional, 

 but it is not necessary, as a pike seldom misses his grip if 

 he means to take the bait, and as he holds it crosswise in 

 bis jaws, he has as much of the bait in his mouth the 

 instant he is felt as he will have until he pouches. The 

 angler should never strike directly upwards over his own 

 head if he can aviod it, but sideways and downwards 

 parallel with the water as it were and for this reason : if 

 he strikes up, the hooks come into contact with the hard 

 bony roof of the pike's mouth, and this is one mass of teeth, 

 into which it is almost impossible to drive a hook deeply: 

 whereas, if he strikes sideways, he has a better chance 

 of getting hold of the softer and more fleshy lower jaw. 



Some writers recommend striking twice, so as to be sure 

 of driving the hooks in. It is, however, quite possible to 

 lose a fish by striking twice the first strike sending the 

 hook in, and the second striking it out again. But there 

 is this much to be said in that case, viz. that the hold 

 must be rather a slight one, and that there would be every 

 possibility of the fish breaking from it whether or no; 

 whereas if the points only without the barbs are buried 

 in the pike's jaw, the second strike will certainly make 

 assurance doubly sure by sending the barbs home. There- 

 fore I leave the angler to adopt whichever course he 

 pleases. I never strike twice unless I am in doubt as to 

 the hooks having taken hold ; but then I am bound to 

 say that sometimes when using a tackle with many tri- 



