recommend, is not advisable. During the ten minutes you have 

 allowed him, he has gorged the hook, and all the striking in the 

 world will make it no faster ; although, if the fish be very large, 

 the indiscreet performance may possibly snap your rod or fine. If 

 the fish move off before ten minutes _ be expired, let him alone, and 

 he will, perhaps, soon stop again ; if not, then jerk him smartly, 

 and make the best of it ; you will most probably capture him. 



It is, however, impossible to give directions which can meet 

 every contingency that may arise. Experience alone can enable 

 the angler to deal successfully with every difficulty ; but no art, no 

 combination of power of words, can convey to others the practical 

 skill and ready tactique resulting from that experience. General 

 rules and leading principles may be laid down, but the art of 

 applying these rules and principles in all their singular variations 

 and diversities, can be obtained, or even comprehended, by experi- 

 ence alone. 



When the last struggles of the pike are over, lift him gently out 

 of the water. Some recommend landing nets, gaffs, &c., &c., for 

 this purpose. For our own part, we are not passionate admirers of 

 these supplementary aids, and have always found our gimp strong 

 enough to effect^ this object when the fish is fairly done up. _Some 

 anglers put their fingers in the pike's eyes ; and others, which is, 

 perhaps, after all the best t way, play him to some shallow place, 

 and run him up the shelving side. Whatever you do ?) however, 

 never put your hand near his mouth. His teeth are formidable 

 weapons, and he bites like a crocodile. Let him go, sooner than 

 let him hold your finger. 



It is sometimes advisable to bait a few gorge-hooks previously 

 to starting, as they will save trouble on an emergency, and probably 

 "be sufficient for the day's sport. Put them, when baited, into a 

 little bran, and they wilfkeep stiff and fresh until you want them. 



There are various opinions about the sort of bait which is best 

 adapted for the pike. Some recommend frogs, some roach, dace, 

 gudgeon, bleak, minnows, and even perch, with the back fin cut 

 off. Some, again, maintain that mice, birds, bats, &c., are 

 accepted as dainties; wliilst others have affirmed that eels cut 

 up into small bits are perfectly irresistible. 



" Who shall decide when doctors disagree ? " All these opinions 

 are most probably the _ result of observation, and are founded on 

 fact ; but the observations may not have been sufficiently strict, 

 and the facts may have been too hastily generalized. The truth, 

 perhaps, is, the pike-fisher goes out on some particular day, un- 

 provided with his accustomed favourite bait, whatever that may 

 Be. The day turns out to be highly promising, and the fish are 

 eagerly on the feed. In his destitution, he baits with anything he 

 can get frog, eel, or mouse the first that comes to hand. He 

 has an excellent day's sport, and goes away under the full persua- 

 sion that he is indebted to the bait for all his good luck. No such 

 thing. The day was favourable the fish were ravenously hungry 



