TROLLING. 



115 



neither too flexible nor too stubborn, as either extreme 

 will impair its utility. If too stiff, the hook or the 

 hold will be endangered when striking; if too pliant, it 

 will yield to the resistance of the water too much to 

 allow a ready stroke to be made when a bite occurs, 

 and the fish will escape ere the effect of the stroke 

 reaches him. Your running-line may be that used for a 

 trolling-line, which you thus complete : Take a strong 

 gut, about nine inches long, having a long-shanked 

 No. 1 hook attached. About three inches above this, 

 attach another stout piece of gut, having on it a hook 

 of No. 7 or No. 8 size, which will thus lie level with 

 the top of the shank of the larger one. To these pieces 

 of gut, thus joined, must be added another, either single 

 or twisted, of about the same length, and joined by 

 swivels, with two or three shots to sink it. I should 

 recommend the angler, however, to purchase this 

 spinning-tackle, as all his other tackle, ready prepared 

 at all events, to do so until he has got very expert in 

 his handling. 



To bait these hooks wij^i the minnow (or bleak) you 

 must pass the large hook down its throat, and through 

 the body, bringing it out at the tail, putting the small 

 one through the chaps, and bringing the point and barb 

 out at the outside of the nose. 



Many anglers use but one hook, in which case, you 

 may improve upon Walton's mode of baiting it, by first 

 i2 



