HOW TO BAIT, AND PLAY THE BAIT. 249 



When you ar^- thus prepared for your intended 

 sport, then drop in your bit before you. tlu-n cast it 

 on each side, and let the 'third throw be befure you into 

 the middle; afterwards ca&t about all places where you 

 think your game lies, or any where that you can h'sh 

 without annoyance; for a Pike often delights in a very 

 unlikely and improbable harbour; and therefore the 

 surest way to meet with him is to (ish true and close; 

 missing as little cf the river as you can, which though it 

 is tedious, yet it is the only way to search and see what 

 store of fish a river affords, and you may often have a 

 bite, when you think least of it. 



The farther you throw in your bait, the more ad van. 

 tage you gain, and the more hopes of a bite, provided 

 there is no impediments in your way, as weeds, roots, 

 and the like , for if the place is foul and weedy, you 

 cannot make out so far, but only drop in your bait here 

 and there, by the sides and in holes that are clear and 

 deep. 



The weeds are bad enemies to the bait and hook, 

 though a good hook, and a line answerable to it, will 

 pull up she strongest. 1 cannot remember that I ever 

 lost a hook by a weed alone, except it had some stump 

 or root of a tree to assist it ; candocks indeed, and 

 bull. rushes, will disfigure and annoy your bait, and 'al- 

 most discountenance a young undertaker; for if the 

 smallest bit of weed hang upon the hook, a Pike will 

 be very squeamish to gorge it : though some affirm that 

 he feeds upon a weed one time of the year, which they 

 call Pickerel. weed. 



Supposing that you have cast out a fair throw a dozen 

 or twenty yards, which may easily be done if the river 

 requires it } let it first have a little time to sink, then 

 feel it and draw it gently towards you ; for a Pike often 

 takes it at the first sight, before it gets to the bottom, 

 and if you snatch it hastily, you may discourage him 

 and be deprived of your sport : after you have given it 

 an easy motion towards you, let it have the liberty of 

 sinking again, then draw it slowly and softly, for if 

 you jerk it too quickly and hastily, you will not give 



