484 PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 



method with live-bait and a double hook, it is made so as 

 to lie flat and close to the side of the fish. This is attached 

 to the trace either by a spiral screw or a wire running round 

 a portion of the extremity of the bottom swivel, or by a 

 sort of snap. I certainly prefer the spiral apparatus. With 

 the double hook, the infamous baiting needle comes into 

 operation, and is used by looping the loop of the hook-link 

 into the eye of the needle the latter being made with a 

 flat sharp point at the other end. Then holding your dace 

 tenderly, " as though you loved him," insert the point of the 

 needle just beneath the skin at the edge of the gills, carry 

 it through, taking care not to wound the flesh under the 

 surface of the skin, and bring the point of the needle out 

 behind the rays of the dorsal fin, drawing the gimp 

 through, noting that the hook lies flat and close to the side 

 of the fish then pop him at once into the bait can. Jack- 

 men using the single hook simply hook their bait through 

 the upper lip or the back fin ; but this is a style which 

 finds little favour with a good pikeman. All being arranged, 

 attach the hook-link to the gimp trace, and you are ready 

 so far as the baiting is concerned. The trace should, of 

 course, be sufficiently leaded or weighted, to ensure the bait 

 being kept well down, and without giving it an opportunity 

 of rising too often to the surface, which they frequently have 

 an unhappy knack of trying to do. Much depends, with 

 regard to the lead, and its weight, upon the sije of the bait 

 used, and also upon the depth and character of the water. 

 Personally I strongly disapprove of side-hook fishing, and 

 only speak of it because fish will occasionally take a bait 

 upon this tackle when they will look at nothing else. The 

 float used must also depend, so far as its size is concerned, 

 upon the buoyant power required, but it is a good maxim 

 never to use one larger than is absolutely necessary, nothing 



