TEOUT. 31 



it in bran for an hour or two, first draw back the 

 plummet or cap, and put the large hook into the 

 minnow's mouth, and out through the right gill, 

 taking care not to tear the mouth, or any part of 

 the bait ; then draw the line three or four inches to 

 you, so as to be able to get the hook back again 

 into its mouth. Then take the minnow between 

 the finger and thumb in the left hand, and the 

 large hook in the right hand, and run the hook all 

 down its back, close to the bone, to the very end of 

 the fish, and let it come out about the centre of 

 the tail fin. Then with your right hand pull the 

 minnow out as straight as it will lie, and press 

 it into natural form with the finger and thumb. 

 Afterwards nip off the upper half of the tail fin, 

 in order to prevent a counteraction to the spinning 

 of the minnow. 



" Having done this, draw down your plummet, 

 or cap, again, and see that your branch line falls 

 smoothly by the side of your bait line, and if not, 

 rub it with Indian rubber till it does. Tour hook 

 is then ready for action, and action indeed it may 

 be called if properly done. I should observe, that a 

 new gut seldom spins the minnow so well as one 

 that is half worn out (by reason of the stiffness 

 which encircles the minnow's gill), therefore, ten 

 minutes soaking in water, and sometimes a little 



