THE PIKE, &C. 125 



the other, to \ary the fishing according to circumstances, 

 and likewise to enable the Angler at a distance from his 

 stores, to have recourse to snap-fishing, if he find the jack 

 dainty ; this purpose may, however, be still more effectually 

 answered by a second top, made wholly of whalebone, 

 and less than half the length of the other. Where the angling 

 mania has possession of a traveller, as it had of ourselves, it is 

 of much importance that an article should be capable of be- 

 ing converted into many purposes. By such a rod as we 

 have just described, he may troll in every water in the king- 

 dom ; nay, he may extend his fishings to the enormous pike 

 of the Canadian lakes, mailed over with rhomboidal scales, 

 and yet he may not return without a successful run. 



" Captain Williamson says, that ' the spare top of an ordi- 

 nary bottom-rod, which is occasionally employed for jack 

 trolling, should be firm, and not too pliant, so that it will bear 

 a weight of four pounds hung to the hook without breaking.' 

 Mr. Salter on this head, says : ' I have two tops to my troll 

 ing rod, which I always carry with me, in case of breaking 

 one, &c. ; one is made very flexible of wood, and a whale- 

 bone top, about two feet long; to this, for strength and secu- 

 rity, I have a ring in the wood part, as well as the large one 

 at the whalebone top ; this top I always use when trolling 

 with the gorge-bait, or when fishing with live bait ; the other 

 top is made wholly of stout whalebone, about one foot long; 

 this I use only when snap-fishing, for which it is well adapted 

 by its superior strength and stiffness.' 



" The length of the rod for live-bait fishing and trolling, may 

 vary from 15 to 17 feet, according to circumstances ; if its j 



wood and workmanship can be depended upon, 16 feet is in 

 no case too much ; and where extensive streams are fished 

 over, one of 16 or 18 feet is convenient." 



The Rings or Guides for the Line, on a trolling rod, 

 should be much larger than those for salmon or trout, and 



