THE PIKE. 57 



longer there, first deep, then raise it higher and 

 higher by degrees, till you bring it so near the top 

 that you can see it glitter ; take it not hastily out, 

 because he often takes it near the top. When 

 he has, taken it, give him line, and let him run to 

 his hold and pouch it ; allow him in general five 

 minutes' law, then strike him, and divert yourself 

 with him as you please. But if after he has run 

 on with the bait to his hold, and rests there but 

 about a minute, and then runs quickly off with 

 it again, do not strike him until he has rested a 

 second time ; and not then until the five minutes 

 are expired, unless he runs off again before they 

 are ; which if he does, draw a tight line and strike 

 him immediately ; if he resists very much, give 

 him line enough, which will soon exhaust his 

 strength ; and when you pull him towards you, 

 do not do it violently ; for if you do he will launch 

 and plunge in such a manner, that though he may 

 not be able to break your tackle, yet he will tear 

 away his hold, nay even his entrails if he is 

 hooked there ; but if you feel him come easily 

 towards you, wind up your line until you see him ; 

 then if he struggles again very much, give him 

 line again, and so proceed till you have killed 

 him : by following which methods you will soon 

 accomplish. The pike bites best from the middle 

 of summer to the end of autumn, about three in 

 the afternoon, in clear water, ruffled with a gen- 

 tle gale, but in winter all day long ; and in the 

 spring he bites early in the morning and late in 

 the evening. The best baits for him are small 

 roaches, daces, bleaks, &c. if the day be dark and 

 cloudy ; but a gudgeon is the best, if the water is 

 clear and the day bright and fine. Your live 

 baits should be kept in a tin kettle, with holes 



