166 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



is kept always stretched tight between the top of the rod and 

 the lead, which should be generally as nearly as possible right 

 under the rod point. The bite is detected by the feel. 



When pike-fishing with the paternoster, it is better to let 

 the fish do a certain amount of ' pulling ' on his own account, 

 before any attempt is made by the fisherman to assist the 

 operation. When the tugging becomes severe, let the pater- 

 nosterer play his part in the operation, by at once and strongly 

 raising up the rod, which ought to have the effect of hooking 

 the fish if he has got the bait well into his mouth. In any case 

 striking is practically useless, as the hooks are small and single, 

 and at a short distance do not require much pressure to drive 

 them in over the barb. Moreover, by striking, if the fish is 

 not caught, both baits are at any rate certain to be lost. 



The form of this paternoster and its mode of construction 

 is so simple and easily described, that diagrams are probably 

 unnecessary. 



Thus much as to the ordinary method of paternostering. 

 Mr. Jardine's method before referred to, differs in several par- 

 ticulars as regards both construction and method of working, 

 and is of so much interest to trailers, that I am specially glad 

 to have the opportunity of presenting my readers with an 

 account of his method, written by Mr. Jardine himself, which 

 he has had the kindness to send to me for this purpose. I 

 am glad to see that he has also given his views on some other 

 branches of pike-fishing, which cannot fail to be of interest to 

 all pike-fishers. But I leave him to speak for himself : 



MR. JARDINE ON PATERNOSTERING FOR PIKE, ETC. 



' Although spinning for pike may be considered the most artistic 

 way of fishing, yet I have always found paternostering most suc- 

 cessful. 



' My method is to use a 13-foot cane rod not too stiff, with large 

 rings half inch diameter all of the same size, so that in the event of 

 a tangle occurring in the line, it can pass through the rings easily, 

 without checking the iish I may have hooked and am playing. To the 



