PRACTICAL JSSSAY. 235 



yards with a gorge-bait, and five-and-thirty with a lighter spinning 

 bait. No great advantage is gained by long throws, however, as in 

 rivers the fish generally lie under the shelter of the bank or ad- 

 jacent weeds. You then pull the line in with the left hand a yard 

 at a time as you lift the bait up, until the latter is close to the side, 

 when it is ready for a fresh throw. Take it out slowly, as a pike 

 often seizes it at the last moment. If you see a pike take it or 

 feel a check, give the fish free line, and let him take the bait where 

 he likes. When he comes to a stop, give him about seven minutes 

 to gorge, and then tighten your line, and if he has not rejected the 

 bait upon a closer examination of it, you will hook him. 



A pike seizes the bait across the middle, and then turns it head 

 downwards to swallow it. If he is hungry and your bait is not 

 stale, he will in seven or eight minutes' time have got it sufficiently 

 far down his gullet to be hooked. If he is not hungry he will hold 

 it between his jaws as long as you like to let him do so, and longer 

 tli an you will care to wait. If he moves away a little before the 

 time is up, he will most probably be hooked ; but if he moves 

 about uneasily from the beginning, you must give him more time. 

 He will not swallow while he is moving about. If he is hooked, 

 he is generally safely hooked, for the steel is fleshed in his gullet 

 or his stomach. Get him out as quickly as you can, and knock 

 him on the head. To extract your hook, unloose the trace from 

 the line, open the gills, or make an incision in the belly, where the 

 bait appears to be, and draw it out that way. Meddle with his 

 mouth as little as possible, for his teeth will inflict very nasty 

 scratches. 



A fish often takes the bait very quietly, and you may think that 

 you have only fouled a weed. In such a case, just keep a light 

 strain on your line for a few seconds, and if it is a fish, you will 

 feel a jerk or two. 



Spinning is a more artistic method of fishing than trolling. There 

 are many kinds of flights of hooks used, but I shall briefly describe 

 three. The first is that brought out by Mr. Pennell, and is shown, 

 together with the mode of baiting it, in the illustration. 



