PIKE. 55 



on the grass ; well done, and a handsome fish you 

 have for your pains ; it is a female Pike, I see, and 

 in excellent condition, and I believe it weighs eight 

 pounds at least. Now, my boy, bag the fish, and 

 put on another baited hook, for I would have you 

 recollect, it frequently happens that you will find a 

 brace of Pike in such a place as this, of a similar 

 size, though of different sexes. After a few throws 

 my young angler had another run, and was fortunate 

 enough to kill the fish, which proved a male Pike, 

 seemingly within half-a-pound weight of the female. 

 During the remainder of this day's trolling, we 

 bagged a third fish, about four pounds weight; I 

 then said enough, do not distress the water. We 

 now withdrew to a comfortable inn, on the river 

 side, for refreshment." 



It would be well for the angler to provide himself 

 with double hooks of several sizes, so that he may 

 always have one proportioned to the size of the bait 

 which his judgement leads him to prefer. Some 

 are of opinion that it is better to deprive the bait of 

 all the fins except the tail ; they say it helps it to 

 spin better ; we think it is not a matter of impor- 

 tance, and therefore the angler may use his own 

 discretion. 



