PTKE. 29 



that you do it well and steadily ; just sufficiently fast to 

 keep the bait revolving in an attractive manner, at about 

 half the depth of the water without fouling weeds, but 

 not so rapidily as to make its speed greater than that of the 

 fish pursuing it. Its revolving motion, undoubtedly, makes 

 it exceedingly attractive to fish of prey ; from whom it pro- 

 bably appears to fly madly for its life, although it possesses 

 none. Make it therefore no difficult task for the Pike to 

 overtake your bait and seize it with facility. 



Although the Pike will very often hook himself, still it is 

 better to strike with a short and moderately strong jerk of 

 the wrist, as soon as the bait is taken. 



The following directions for landing a Pike will be found 

 in the "Guide to Spinning and Trolling" to which the reader 

 is referred for more detailed descriptions of tackle, <fcc. : 

 "We will suppose that you have now hooked your fish, 

 which will if it be of any size, require careful handling. Do 

 not be in a hurry to land him. More fish are lost by the 

 nervous feeling which shoots through the young Angler, when 

 he feels the first rush of a Pike, than by any other course, 

 whatever. Keep the point of your rod well raised and the 

 line taut ; if he makes for a bed of weeds and pulls hard, 

 give him line, but still try to turn him by holding the rod 

 the contrary v.ay, and endeavour to lead him back to the 

 place from whence he started Now he strikes off again ; let 

 him go ; now wind him in again, but do not distress your 

 line by keeping it too tight on the fish. He now makes 

 shorter journeys, and seems inclined to come to shore ; hold 

 him a little tighter, and feel if he will allow you to raise and 

 show him, but be collected and careful. If fishing from the 

 shore, try to lead him to the nearest opening in the rushes. 

 Keep your line free, for he will possibly for a few moments 

 be more violent than ever, as if he were determined to break 

 the strongest tackle. Give him a few turns more, and he 

 will be quiet enough. Now draw him again in shore, * * * 

 keeping the head a little raised above the surface of the water 

 so that the nose or gills may not hang to, or catch hold of 

 weeds, <fec., * * If you have a friend with you with a landing 

 net or gaff-hook, your prize is easily landed, but if you are 



