SNAPPING. 27 



we fish with a gorge hook, and snapping when the 

 bait is not swallowed, but the fish struck imme- 

 diately on its biting. On this latter plan I would 

 make a few more observations before I enter on 

 the subject of trolling. Should you see your fish 

 seize the bait (which in all probability you will 

 by adopting the plan I have been recommending, 

 that is, by keeping the bait within six inches from 

 the surface of the water), strike him the contrary 

 way to his head, that you may not pull the hooks 

 and bait out of his mouth : should you, however, 

 not see him bite, strike upwards. I have already 

 given directions how to treat him then, if hooked, 

 should he be a small fish ; but if, on the contrary, 

 he should prove to be a large one, which you will 

 at once find him to be (even if you do not see 

 him) should he bear heavy on your rod, let him 

 run a few yards, keeping your rod tolerably tight, 

 so as to feel him tug, raising him at the same 

 time gradually towards the surface, strictly on 

 your guard lest the line should be too tight while 

 this process is going on, as a sudden dash of the 

 fish might in that case break it. In fact, in snap- 

 ping you must never let the fish carry your line 

 from you without difficulty on his part, letting 

 him know that you have him in tow, yet careful 

 not to hold him too tightly, to the breaking either 



