TROLLING WITH DEAD GORGE-BAIT. 183 



it being that of a waterhen, which it secured and brought to 

 the bank after an exciting chase. Eventually, however, the 

 career of the feathered angler was tragically cut short ; whilst 

 diving one day as usual, he was seized and crushed to death 

 by a jack (weighing only z\ Ibs.) which was itself choked in its 

 endeavours to swallow him. 



But this is rather putting the cart before the horse ; first 

 catch your hare, or rather, your pike, and that involves first 



GORGE-BAIT TACKLE. 



In the matter of gorge tackle, almost alone amongst fish- 

 ing appliances, it would seem that we have retrograded instead 

 of advancing. Nobbes' gorge hook, omitting the dragon tails 

 before alluded to, was distinctly better than the hooks with which 

 until lately trailers were satisfied to dress their tackle. In order 

 to understand the difference and its bearing upon the trailer's 

 requirements it should, of course, be understood that the gorge- 

 bait is a dead fish, say gudgeon or dace, through which from 

 head to tail a double hook with a leaded shank is drawn by 

 means of a baiting needle, the two hooks standing out well on 

 each side of the bait's mouth. The upper end of the hook- 

 shank is attached to the trace, and the bait being dropped head 

 first into the stream wherever there is a hole or opening in the 

 weeds, or even where there is none, goes plump to the bottom 

 performing, if properly baited, sundry gyrations and twistings 

 which are likely to attract the notice of any pike on the feed. 



The pike having seized it, is allowed by the troller to carry 

 it away freely with him wherever he likes, and when and if he 

 swallows it, which he does invariably head first, his capture is 

 certain, because even if they did not stick somewhere in the belly 

 or entrails, the two hooks opening backwards from the bait's 

 mouth cannot possibly be squeezed through the pike's gullet 

 without laying hold somewhere or other. The point of danger 

 in the process is that the pike, when gripping the bait may 

 become conscious of an unusual rigidity or unbendingness 



