POT-HUNTERS. 135 



bait his tackle, and what tackles may be used, with the 

 methods of using them how to hook, play, and land his 

 pike I shall tell him where to fish for him. When I say 

 where to fish for him, I do not mean in what localities ; 

 for if I knew any good localities, I should keep them to 

 myself, as my own experience tells me that good pike- 

 fishing is far more scarce than good salmon-fishing, and 

 is much more easily spoiled. I think this is owing to the 

 practice among anglers of using gorge tackle and killing 

 small fish. If we kill the small fish, it is evident that 

 they cannot grow into large ones. Had I the management 

 of a good pike water, I would allow nothing but spinning, 

 and no fish under four pounds to be killed. Be satisfied, 

 O angler, with landing the three-pounder ; you have had 

 your sport from him ; let him go to grow bigger, that your 

 sport may grow with him, and your horn be exalted some 

 day at killing a twenty-pounder. Some time since I 

 turned seven fish of under a pound and a half each (part 

 of my day's take) into a cunning corner in the Thames ; 

 the very next day a pot-hunter came and took four of 

 them, and carried them away. 



Confound all pot-hunters, 

 Frustrate these knave punters, &c., 



say I ; for they are the curse of most waters and of all fair 

 fishers, while unfortunately their name is legion. 



In ponds or lakes the angler should attend more par- 

 ticularly to the shallow portions, where the water does not 

 exceed from seven to eight or ten feet in depth ; and even 

 in less than this he will find the best sport. Pike prefer 

 the shallow waters, especially when feeding, as there 

 bait is the most plentiful. If there be a shallow margin, 

 and then a sudden deepening of the water, the fish are 

 fond of lying just on the edge, between the two at least 

 that is where they more often take the bait ; and a bait 



