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THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 



to take them to the river in a minnow kettle, and 

 thus preserve them alive, he may put as many as 

 convenient in a small box, with some bran. 



The best way of baiting the minnow is to draw 

 the large hook first through both lips, so that 

 they be not torn, and then insert it at the mouth, 

 and pass it down the body, until the point pro- 

 trudes below the ventral fin j the two small hooks 

 must then be fastened through the back of the 

 head, so that they may stand upright, with the 

 points towards the head. Some use three small 

 hooks for this purpose ; but, as the fish take this 

 bait greedily, two, in addition to the body, or 

 large hook, are sufficient. Other persons use six 

 small fly hooks, two of which are placed back to 

 back, at the foot of the line -, two at the distance 

 of about an inch above these, and the remaining 

 two an inch higher ; one of which is fixed through 

 the lips of the minnow, one of the succeeding 

 two into the back, and one of the last two a little 

 above the tail, making it to curve slightly ; thus 

 offering some resistance when drawn across or 



