PRACTICAL LESSONS IN THE GENTLE CRAFT. 489 



large bait is in use it is advisable to give him more time, 

 but if they are feeding freely and the bait is taken while 

 the fish is moving off at the same instant, it is only reason- 

 able to suppose that he has turned the bait as he ran, and 

 so the " strike " may be attempted. In places where it is 

 weedy, it will be found a better plan rather to dip down 

 from the point of the rod, into all likely looking " shops," 

 and abstain from working the bait on the bottom at all, 

 from the likelihood of getting " hung up " in the weeds, and 

 a consequent smash of tackle ensuing. Very much, how- 

 ever, depends upon the characteristics of the place when at 

 the river side, and the intelligent angler will be greatly 

 guided by circumstances. Nine times out of ten when 

 paternoster fishing, the fish will be found hooked at the 

 edge, or just outside the lip, and no difficulty will be 

 experienced in extracting the hook. Beware, however, at 

 all times of putting fingers near a pike's teeth ; he'll bite 

 like a crocodile if he has half a chance, and even a chance 

 scratch is unpleasant. It is far better therefore first to 

 land heavily on his cranium with the toe of your boot, and 

 then if the hook is gorged, and it is not easily got at with 

 the disgorger of slipping the hook off the trace altogether, 

 than stand the chance of getting your fingers well scored 

 with his grinders, which, to say the least of it, is not a 

 pleasant process, and especially on a cold day. I speak 

 from experience, and therefore feelingly. 



PERCH FISHING. 



A gloriously handsome fish, perch, when in condition, 

 afford excellent sport, and they are deservedly favourites 

 with each and every fisherman, let him be young or old. 

 One of the very first fish I ever caught in my life was a 



