142 COARSE FISH. 



possible, allowing the stream to carry the bait 

 clear. For pike, only one hook should be em- 

 ployed on a paternoster, though two are frequently 

 used for perch. For very deep holes, or where the 

 bottom is foul, the hook may be two or three feet 

 from the lead ; in shallow water, it should be 

 nearer than this. I prefer a single hook, of good 

 size, for paternostering, on gimp or twisted gut ; 

 any second hook is much more liable to catch in 

 the line or in weeds. The lead is quietly dropped 

 until it reaches the bottom of the river or pond, 

 and the line is kept just taut on it. Being so close 

 to the main line, the bait cannot get into obstruc- 

 tions even near at hand, and you can often hook a 

 pike in the most difficult places with this tackle. 

 Where the water is much obstructed, very strong 

 tackle must be used ; but for open holes and runs, 

 fine gear may be safely employed. Striking a pike 

 with paternoster-tackle is rather uncertain work, as 

 in most cases the pike cannot be allowed much 

 law, owing to dangerous surroundings : on feeling 

 the bait taken, drop your rod-top to the fish, give 

 him as much law as you dare, according to his 

 movements, and strike smartly against the fish. 

 A float is not employed in this style of fishing ; it 

 is all done by touch and watching the line. 



Trailing for pike is much practised in the Irish 



lakes and other large sheets of water, being 



S in fact almost, the only way to work such 



great waters with any prospect of success. On the 



Thames, however, it is illegal. The Thames Fishery 



Bye-law No. 6, 1893, is as follows: " No person shall 



allow any rod and line, or line to which any bait or 



hook, natural or artificial, is attached, to be drawn 



or trailed from any vessel on the River Thames." 



