FISHING AT HOME AND ABROAD 

 on the gaff handle. In this way there is no ugly gaff mark in the side of the 

 fish, and if it is under size, or you do not want to keep it, it is not injured. 

 If a net is used it should be held in the same way in lifting the fish out, 

 i.e., with the net handle vertical during the lifting. 



12-Ib. PIKE AND li-lb. TROUT. 



It is often stated that pike always seize a fish across the body and do not swallow it tail first; in the majority of 

 cases this may be the case, but I have seen many exceptions. For instance, the 12-Ib. pike here sketched swallowed 

 tail first the IJ-lb. trout which I had hooked when fishing in the river Pydel, near Wareham, Dorset, with a mayfly. 

 He swallowed so much of the fish that after an exciting fight I was able to land both. When the pike saw me he tried 

 all he could to disgorge the trout, but his big in-curved teeth were too firmly fixed in it, and fifty yards lower down 

 the stream I got my trout landing net over the heads of both fish, and by good luck got out both ; it is proof positive 

 that a pike will swallow a fish tail first at times. — R. B. M. 



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