HOW TO BAIT WITH IT. 211 



to get the hook back again into its mouth. Then 

 take the minnow between the finger and thumb 

 in the left hand, and the large hook in the right 

 hand, and run the hook all down its back inside, 

 close to the bone, to the very end of the fish, and 

 let it come out about the centre of the tail-fin. 

 Then with your right hand pull the minnow out 

 as straight as it will lie, and press it into natural 

 form with the finger and thumb. Afterwards, 

 nip off the upper half of the tail-fin, in order to 

 prevent a counter-action to the spinning of the 

 minnow. Having done this, draw down your 

 plummet (snout-lead) again, and see that your 

 branch line falls smoothly by the side of your 

 bait line ; and if not, rub it with Indian rubber 

 till it does. Your hook is then ready for action ; 

 and action, indeed it may be called, if properly 

 done. I should observe, that new gut seldom spins 

 the minnow so well as that which is half worn 

 out (by reason of the stiffness which encircles the 

 minnow's gill)> therefore ten minutes' soaking in 

 water, and sometimes a little hard friction of the 

 gut, just above the large hook, may at first be re- 

 quired, besides the working of it with Indian 

 rubber. So much for this plan : there may be 

 many better ; but all I can say is, that I have not 

 yet seen one fit to be named with it." By study- 

 ing the preceding cut and explanations of it, the 

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