BAITING THE GORGE-HOOK. 57 



fins of the bait, I think it is decidedly the best 

 to cut them all close, although some anglers 

 leave a pectoral fin on one side and a ventral 

 fin on the other, cutting off all the rest ; but 

 the reader will find that with the fins off the 

 bait revolves more freely in the water, when 

 sinking or being drawn up, than when the fins 

 are left on ; the bait will also last much longer 

 without them, as they often catch or hang to 

 weeds, and when this happens the bait is 

 generally torn so as to be almost useless. 



This is of some consequence to the angler 

 who is short of baits, and is at a distance 

 from any place where he may replenish his 

 bait-box; for if the bait is in good preserva- 

 tion, I have often known a brace of Pike to be 

 taken with one bait when used with care and 

 skill. 



There is another description of gorge-hook, 

 known as the weed-hook, which is used in 

 weedy places, and is very successful in finding 

 fish. The hook is the same shape as the 

 ordinary gorge-hook, but it has no wire to it, 

 the gimp being fastened to a ring at the end 

 of the lead, which is about an inch and a half 

 in length ; to bait it, the gimp is turned back 

 on the lead, which is then pushed into the 

 mouth of the bait, the points of the hooks 

 fitting close to the sides of the mouth, and the 

 gimp coming out between the hooks ; the lips 

 are then sewn up with a needle and thread, 

 to prevent the lead coming out; it is then 



