170 PLAYING A PIKE. 



most desperate situations, and try the strength 

 of your tackle by various stratagems. Treat him 

 tenderly, for his mouth is very hard, and fre- 

 quently you will find that the hook, instead of 

 having gone through the jaw, rests by a very slight 

 hold of the point on some tough part, from which 

 it is easily displaced : when such is the case, your 

 hook is in danger of snapping at the bend. 



" I consider it very hazardous to let a jack have 

 more line than he will run off the reel when he 

 first seizes the bait (the Captain is here in the 

 wrong) ; because he will to a certainty, if there 

 be any weeds, or other shelter at hand, go in, and 

 lead you into difficulty ; but circumstances must 

 govern on every occasion. 



" When a jack takes your bait, if the water is 

 clear, you may see him to a great depth ; at least 

 there will be a perceptible agitation of the water, 

 proportioned to its depth, and to the size of the 

 fish ; for a jack generally seizes with violence, even 

 though the bait be close to him. At all events, 

 if you do not see any of these symptoms, you will 

 soon feel them. If you are prepared in the snap 

 way, strike firmly, but not with a jerk, lest you 

 tear away through his jaw, or break your hook, If 

 you have gorging tackle, you must let him run 

 as far as he may please ; avoiding to check him, 

 and pointing your rod down in the direction 

 he takes, so that there may be no hindrance, and 



