50 TIME TO ALLOW FOR POUCHING. 



give him a minute or two longer, for you 

 must remember that when a Jack has gorged 

 the baited hook, he cannot possibly get it out 

 again ; but if you strike before he has done so, 

 you risk pulling the bait from his mouth with- 

 out the hook touching him ; therefore, the only 

 chance of losing Jack after they have taken the 

 live-bait, is in not giving them time enough 

 to pouch it, supposing them to be inclined to 

 pouch ; (as a general rule, when a Jack has 

 pouched, the line slackens slightly). But 

 if, when you have a run, the Jack or Pike 

 moves some distance, and stops a minute or 

 two, then moves off again, stops a few moments 

 as before, and then a third time changes his 

 quarters, you may expect that he will not 

 pouch, but that he is either more on the play 

 than on the feed ; or, if it is a small fish with 

 which you have a run, that there are larger 

 Pike about the spot that prevent the one which 

 has taken your bait from stopping, either for 

 fear of the stronger one taking his prey from 

 him, or, as is sometimes the case, the larger 

 one seizing him. 



When you have reason to suppose that a 

 Jack is more for playing with the bait than 

 feeding, and he has moved a third time, then 

 wind up the line and strike smartly the 

 contrary way to which the Jack is running, 

 and you will probably hook him, in or about 

 the mouth. But when you have a run, and the 

 Jack or Pike after having taken the bait, and 



