CHAPTER XV. 

 ARTIFICIAL BAITS. 



PROBABLY in no direction has there been more ingenuity 

 displayed than in the production of artificial baits, such as 

 trolling spoons, spinners, propellers and artificial minnows, 

 frogs, Crustacea, insects and nondescripts. 



In trolling spoons the changes that have been rung upon 

 the original oval metal spoon, with a single hook, have been, 

 to say the least, remarkable ; and it is, indeed, surprising 

 to see the number of forms that have been evolved from 

 that simple implement. Every conceivable shape into 

 which the old spoon could be cut, bent or twisted, and still 

 have it revolve, has been resorted to ; and it has been fluted, 

 hammered and corrugated ; and grooved, ribbed and perfo- 

 rated ; embossed, painted and nickel-plated; and doubled 

 and trebled, and made to spin around floats and balls and 

 metal minnows and flies, until the brain begins to whirl, 

 and the eyes become dazed in their contemplation. Some 

 are fearfully and wonderfully made, and are the most cruel 

 and murderous-looking instruments of torture ever devised 

 for the use of the followers of the meek and gentle Walton. 



The trolling spoon has its legitimate uses, when it is 

 properly made and judiciously employed. There are situ- 

 ations where the small revolving spoon with a single hook 

 can be cast with a light rod and still remain within the pale 

 of legitimate angling; but there is never any excuse for 



using more than a single hook. 



(125) 



