THE PIKE FAMILY. 133 



and in Lake Champlain. It has been introduced into Lake 

 George within the last seven or eight years. 



Pickerel are taken almost entirely by trolling with some 

 artificial spinning bait ; of these the murderous implement 

 called the spoon is in general use. A stout trolling-rod of ten 

 feet, a multiplying-reel with a hundred yards of plaited-silk 

 line, and the spinning bait, attached by one or two swivels, 

 completes the troller's outfit. A gaff is sometimes used ; but 

 as the fish, when he is drawn up to the boat, has generally 

 two or three hooks in his jaws, it is not required. 



Alexandria Bay, near the Thousand Isles of the St. Law- 

 rence, is a favorite resort for those who fish for Pickerel. In 

 trolling for them, when the angler takes his seat in the boat, 

 he generally finds his oarsman supplied with one or two 

 stout cedar poles, which by your permission he will rig out 

 on one or both sides, like studding-sail booms. Trailing 

 from each of these poles, there will be thirty or forty yards 

 of strong hemp line, with a spoon attached by a swivel ; and 

 while he looks after them, he leaves you to the enjoyment of 

 your jointed rod, your multiplying-reel, and your pipe, in the 

 stern. When a fish is hooked the boatman slacks his speed, 

 keeping easy way to prevent the lines on the other rods from 

 becoming entangled, or the spoons from sinking to the 

 bottom. If the fish be on the line attached to the native rod, 

 you throw the point forward, grasp the line, and pull in the 

 victim hand over hand. As he nears the boat, he will 

 perhaps raise his head out of the water and rattle the spoon 

 (in the oarsman's vernacular, " ring the bell"). By the time 

 you get him alongside he is generally docile ; when you put 

 your hand over and grasp him by the nape of the neck, bring 

 him on board, disengage the hooks, give him a few taps on 

 the head with a stick kept in the boat for that purpose, and 

 the drama is played out. When you strike a fish with your 



