124 FISHING. 



noose of wire fixed to a strong pole. The snarer at- 

 tends to those deeps or holes to which pike resort during 

 the greatest heat of a summer's day; then he gently 

 slips the wire over the head and gill fins of the fish, and 

 with a jerk hoists it to land. If it be a large pike, it 

 requires considerable exertion to bring it to land. Pike 

 are in season from May to February. The best months 

 for trolling are February and October; in the latter 

 they are in the best condition. Snap-angling is also 

 practised for pike. The snap has two large hooks 

 placed back to back, with a small one in the centre, on 

 which to place the bait. The float is to swim down 

 the current, and on perceiving a bite you must give a 

 sudden jerk or snap : keep the line tight, and without 

 giving him any play draw the fish to shore, and land 

 him with the net. Very large pike can seldom be caught 

 by the snap. 



Trout are in season from March till Michaelmas, and 

 are taken with live baits ; the best for this purpose is the 

 lob- worm : he is also taken with a fly, and will readily 

 bite an artificial one : he will bite a fly on the surface, 

 but it is better to sink it about half a foot. Trout 

 generally shelter themselves under banks or large stones, 

 or among weeds, with only their heads visible, and thus 

 watch their prey. Proceed silently up the stream, and 

 stir the water from the bottom with a pole, then throw 

 the bait into the troubled water ; when they will fre- 

 quently take it immediately. The best trout are taken 

 in the night ; where they are plentiful they bite raven- 



