PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 473 



the fleshy root of the tail, and precisely at the angle of the 

 fork. That establishes a firm hold, and then, taking the 

 lateral line as a guide, carefully fit in hook after hook 

 upwards, towards the head, taking care that you bruise not 

 nor tear the delicate skin, finishing off at the top triangle, 

 which should fit nearly at the root but slightly above the 

 pectoral fin. Draw back the liphook, hanging loose on its 

 wet gut, measure off say half an inch for lapping, twist it 

 carefully up until the bend of the hook touches the lips of 

 the bait, and equally carefully put the hook through the 

 very centre of the gristle of both lips. If it hangs straight 

 as a die, with only a gentle curve at the tail, it will spin so 

 as to kill a Thames trout, and if it don't, it won't ; so there 

 you are, don't you know ! 



I do not like artificial baits, although I don't say that 

 they will not kill at times. But those times are, in my 

 opinion, and in the majority of cases, just the same as 

 when the short trace, coarse gut angler gets a run. Even 

 here I must make an exception in favour of one bait, and 

 only one, and that is the * Bell's Life ' spinner, made and 

 sold by Alfred & Son, of Moorgate Street. This is simply 

 a really good bait, beyond all shadow of doubt, and both 

 in the Thames and other rivers has proved its unquestion- 

 able excellence and killing powers over and over again. As 

 an instance, I may place it on record that on the 2?th of 

 April, 1880 the first season, I fancy, in which they came 

 into general use, and on a bitter cold day to boot H. P. 

 Hughes, Esq., caught at Shepperton Weir a brace of 

 splendid Thames trout, weighing respectively 9 Ibs. and 

 7 J Ibs. In each case the trout had completely gorged the 

 bait, taking it so thoroughly into the mouth that it required 

 the assistance of scissors before the hooks could be cut 

 away. A very great deal, however, of the excellence of 



