56 BEST'S ART OF ANGLING. 



two inches up the wire with a piece of lead 

 about a quarter of an inch square ; at the greater 

 orjower end fix to the shank an armed wire about 

 four inches long, and at the top of the wire, about 

 half a yard of gimp, with a loop at the top of 

 that ; to bait this hook you must have a brass 

 needle about seven inches long ; put the loop of 

 the gimp on the eye, or small curve of the needle, 

 then thrust it into the mouth of the fish, and bring 

 it out at his tail, drawing the gimp and wire along 

 with it till the lead is fixed in the belly of the 

 bait-fish, and the hook or hooks are come to his 

 month ; then turn the points of the hooks towards 

 his eyes, if a double hook, but if a single one, di- 

 rectly in a line with his belly, and tie his tail to 

 the arming-wire very neatly, with white thread : 

 I always, whether the hook be double or single, 

 put a small piece of a worm on the point or 

 points of it ; which prevents their pricking 

 the pike, for if it does he will instantly leave 

 it. To bait the former, put the lead into the 

 mouth of the bait-fish, and sew it up, the fish 

 will live some time ; and though the weight of the 

 lead will keep his head downwards, he will swim 

 with nearly the same ease as if at liberty. Either 

 of the former hooks being baited and fastened to 

 the swivel, cast it into the water, and keep it in 

 constant motion, sometimes letting it sink and 

 at others raising it gradually, chiefly throwing it 

 into the parts of the pond, meer, or river, where 

 his haunts are most usual ; as near banks, under 

 stumps of trees, by the side of bulrushes, water- 

 docks, weeds, or bushes ; but in any of these places 

 you need never make above a trial or two for him, 

 for if he is there he will instantly seize the bait. 

 When you draw your bait near the bank, play it 



