THE PIKE FAMILY. 213 



I have witnessed this tenacity occasionally in the case of 

 both Eels and Perch; and the Stickleback, as is well 

 known, will let itself be pulled out of the water by its 

 hold of a worm. 



On one occasion, for the sake of experiment, I fastened 

 a large cork to a string, and drew it across a Pike-pond, 

 giving it at the same time an irregular, life-like motion. 

 It was quickly seized by a fish of about 2 Ibs., which made 

 a most determined resistance, running out the twine as if 

 really hooked, and only relinquishing its grasp of the cork 

 when within arm's length. The experiment was repeated 

 several times with a similar result. 



This illustrates a fact of great importance to Pike-fishers, 

 and one which is of especial significance in the case of 

 Spinners : namely, that Pike will constantly make a con- 

 siderable fight, and even allow themselves to be dragged 

 many yards, by the obstinacy of their hold, without ever 

 having been pricked by a hook shaking the bait out of 

 their mouths when almost in the net. It is highly de- 

 sirable therefore to take care always to strike very sharply 

 when thus fishing, and to repeat the stroke until a violent 

 tearing struggle is felt; such a struggle almost invariably 

 beginning the moment a fish really feels the hooks, and 

 being easily distinguished from that sluggish resistance, 

 sometimes absolute inaction, exhibited when it is only 

 holding on. 



When fishing with a gorge-bait, if a large number of 

 small bubbles rise from the spot where it is evident, from 



