THE ART OF FISHING. 



are two-fold — one, which does not spring when you strike the fish, 

 and the other which does. The first- named consists of three hooks 

 — two large ones, tied back to back, with their bai-bs pointing differ- 

 ent ways ; and one smaller hook tied on at the top of the shanks of 

 the others, and pointing straight out from them. The spring-snap 

 is generally used with dead bait; it requires deep insertion in the 

 bait to allow the spring to act. which it will not do without some 

 considerable resistance. Spinning is a dashing, killing method of 

 angling, and the practice of it requires considerable muscular exer- 

 tion. The best spinning rod is made of a single piece of East India 

 mottled cane, fourteen or sixteen feet long, well ringed, with a screw 

 winch, requiring no winch fittings. With a rod of this description, 

 large trout can be trolled for in the deepest and widest waters. In 

 narrow streams, the angler can spin with a very small portion of 

 line out, and almost avoid casting, the length of the rod allowing 

 the bait to be dropped noiselessly wherever it is wished, and to 

 spin it accordingly. The baits used in spinning should be of the 

 most brilliant colors, the brightest minnows, or gudgeons, you can 

 procure. The hooks used in spinning should be of the briglit steel 

 color of the wire, not changed to the ordinary blue hue of hooks; 

 and they should be whipped on with light colored silk, waxed with 

 white wax. You can use the live bait, or an artificial bait, as is 

 convenient. Some sportsmen are very fortunate with the artificial 

 bait. A stiff rod and reel, with the same tackle as before described, 

 and no sinker — is all that is required. The boat should move gently, 

 and let your line drag far in the rear. With artificial bait the fish 

 is hooked almost instantly. If you use live bait be exceedingly care- 

 ful in determining when the fish has gorged it. You should give 

 him several minutes after he has seized it, for this purpose. On see • 

 ing the bait, a pickerel will generally run off with it, and will then 

 stop to gorge it, but does not always do so. The sign that he has 

 swallowed it, is a peculiar slackening of the line, which experienced 

 anglers can easily understand. But if he has not gorged the bait, he 

 will soon start on a second time, and sometimes will stop and start 

 off the third time. In these cases, you should never be in a hurry. 

 When you are convinced that he has taken down the bait, draw a 

 tight line, and strike for your fish. If he is large, you should play 

 with him until he is quite exhausted, or you may lose him in the 

 attempt to land. The difficulty of taking a pickerel from the hook 

 may be obviated in a measure by gagging him. For this purpose some 



