142 PIKE. 



forwards, keeping his head up, until he is so far ex- 

 hausted that you may safely venture to lift him into 

 your landing-net. 



In fishing for barbel, be pretty liberal with your 

 ground-bait, the best of which is greaves, clay, and 

 bran, mixed together, and made up into balls. 



XIII. THE PIKE, OR JACK. 



As soon as the spawning is over, which is at the latter 

 end of March, or early in April, these fish return for a 

 few days to the deep waters, and during the middle of 

 the day may be found basking in a state of torpidity 

 upon the surface, enjoying the warmth of the sun. At 

 this time they may be taken though every true angler 

 will set his face against the unsportsmanlike practice 

 by a process called " haltering," or " snaring." This 

 requires a stout pole, such as is used to hay -rakes, at 

 the top of which a piece of strong cord, about two or 

 three feet long, is fastened, having at its lower end a 

 piece of stout brass or copper wire, formed into a draw 

 loop, large enough to allow a man's head to pass 

 through it. In using this, you must look the pike full 

 in the face, keeping your eyes fixed on his, so that he 

 becomes in a manner fascinated, and remains motion- 

 less. The pole must then be lowered very gradually, 

 so that the wire loop may pass under the level, at about 

 a foot before his nose, and when got to such a direction 

 as that it may girt him all around, without touching 

 him in any part, you must gradually move the noose or 

 loop forward, until you have passed his gills, and then, 

 with a sudden jerk, pull tight, so that the loop may 



