SIZE OF HOOK. 137 



threw one in a little above him. This he devoured 

 eagerly, as also another. We then baited our hook 

 and threw it in above him ; but on its approaching 

 he made off very quickly, being evidently alarmed 

 by the gut. 



In dressing bait-hooks, take a well-waxed red 

 silk thread, and commence by giving it a turn or 

 two round the end of the shank of the hook, to 

 prevent the latter from cutting the gut ; then laying 

 the gut to the hook, whip both firmly together 

 rather more than half-way up the shank, where 

 finish with a succession of hitch-knots or the whip- 

 fastening. 



With regard to the size of hook, we think a 

 small size, not larger than No. 3 or 4, is best, being 

 much more easily swallowed, and less likely to be 

 discovered by the trout. When baiting, take the 

 hook, and entering it close to the head end of the 

 worm, run the worm up on it and on the gut, till 

 it is all impaled but about three-quarters of an inch 

 of the tail, which should be left to play about. The 

 object of this is, that the trout, which always makes 

 its first attack upon the part which appears most 

 lively, may seize the end where the hook is. It is 

 the practice of some anglers to leave a large part 

 of the head to move about, under the supposition 

 that the worm will live longer. This is very ob- 

 jectionable, as in such circumstances the trout may 

 make its first attack on the head, and may be 

 alarmed by getting the gut in its mouth ; or the 



