2O OBSERVATIONS 



and stumps, which he will endeavour to 

 make to, and fasten your line, but if the 

 river is clear, you may allow him line till he 

 is sufficiently tired, when with the afsistancc 

 of a friend, or the convenience of a landing 

 net, "you will easily secure him, but you 

 must not by any means, lift him out of the 

 water with your rod and line only, for 

 though to all appearance he may be suffici- 

 ently tired, yet the moment he quits the 

 water, he will open his mouth and by tearing 

 his stomach with his own weight, get quit 

 of the hook, and you will have the mortifica- 

 tion not only of losing the fish, but of know- 

 ing he will inevitably* die in the water. 



In trowling, when the pike has gorged it 

 is unnecefsary to strike, as the hook is in the 

 stomach of the pike and cannot return with- 

 out some violence, such as attempting to 

 throw him out without drawing him gently 

 to shore when tired, or using the landing 

 net. 



It frequently happens, that a pike will 



