THE PIKE. 141 



tempts such dangerous amusement. The dead snap 

 may be made either with two or four hooks. Take 

 about twelve inches of stout gimp, make a loop at one 

 end, at the other tie a hook 

 (size No. 2), and about an 

 inch farther up the gimp tie 

 another hook of the same di- 

 mensions ; then pass the 

 loop of the gimp into the gill 

 of a dead bait-fish, and out 

 at its mouth, and draw the 

 gimp till the hook at the 

 bottom comes just behind 

 the back fin of the bait, and 

 the point and barb are made 

 to pierce slightly through 

 its skin, which keeps the 

 whole steady : now pass the 

 ring of a drop-bead lead 

 over the loop of the gimp, 

 fix the lead inside the bait's 



mouth, and sew the mouth up. This will suffice 

 for the snap with a couple of hooks. If the 

 four-hooked snap is desired (and it is very kill- 

 ing), take a piece of stout gimp about four inches 

 long, and making a loop at one end, tie a couple of 

 hooks of the same size, and in the same manner as 

 those before described. After the first two and the 

 lead are in their places, and previous to the sewing 

 up of the mouth, pass the loop of the shorter gimp 

 through the opposite gill, and out at the mouth of 

 the bait ; then draw up the hooks till they occupy 



