1 82 MINNOW AND PARR-TAIL FISHING. 



subject, but the result was decidedly in favour of a 

 drag. Sometimes more than half of what we 

 caught were taken by it ; at others not more than 

 a third. When the drag was on, we did not 

 catch so many trout on the minnow-tackle itself, 

 as when the drag was off, which we account for in 

 two ways. Firstly, the drag is likely to alarm a 

 few trout which would otherwise take the minnow ; 

 and secondly and mainly, the drag captured at 

 the first rise numbers of trout which would have 

 repeated their attack and been caught by the 

 minnow-tackle proper. On no occasion did we 

 catch more without the drag than with it, but we 

 think it quite possible, that in very clear water, 

 and among very wary trout, the drag might alarm 

 them ; and that if it is not catching a fair propor- 

 tion say at least one in four it may safely be 

 dispensed with. 



The following illustration shows the minnow- 



tackle, and also a view of the minnow when 

 baited. 



In baiting, take the large hook, and, entering it 



