174: PICKEREL. 



never make many nor long-sustained rushes, but they 

 give powerful jerks and flounces that, if resisted, will 

 tear out or break any hook ; otherwise, they can ordina- 

 rily be drawn through, or more properly over, the water 

 like a wet rag. The person who pulls them in as though 

 it was a question of strength between him and the fish, 

 deserves to lose them and have his fingers cut besides. 

 The moment, however, the fish is at the side of the skiff, 

 he should be either gaffed or lifted over the gunwale 

 at once, as more are lost then than at any other time. 

 Their jaws are mere skin and bone, the skin tearing 

 away at once, and the bone forming no substance in 

 which the hook can imbed itself, the latter sometimes 

 slips out or more frequently is broken off. If you value 

 your fingers, never put them in a pickerel's mouth or 

 gills, which are armed with innumerable sharp and even 

 venomous teeth. The best weather for trolling is a light, 

 southwesterly breeze, and in large and deep waters a 

 bright sky ; in a heavy wind, it is impossible to manage 

 the boat. 



The hook should always be on wire or gimp, the 

 former preferable as the latter is so rarely what it pro- 

 fesses to be, and of course should be attached to the line 

 by not less than two swivels. The best spoon is the so- 

 called BuePs patent, with three hooks, either in one 

 piece, or soldered firmly together, and a small elliptical 

 piece of tin, copper or brass, made to revolve round them 

 by means of a shoulder on the shank. This may be tin 

 on one side and red on the other, or copper and brass, or 

 copper or brass alone, to suit the angler's fancy, and the 

 shank of the hooks is wound with scarlet flannel, or 



