128 



THE PIKE, &C, 



before you, then cast it on each side, and let the third throw 

 be across the river, or as far as you can reach ; still letting 

 the bait fall lightly on the water. In each cast let your bait 

 fall nearly to the bottom ; then draw it up gently towards 

 you, and again let it sink and rise till you, draw it out of the 

 water for another cast. 



" The further you throw your bait if the water be broad, 

 (provided always that it fall lightly,) the greater your chance 

 of success, so that you are not interrupted by weeds, roots of 

 trees, &c. ; and if the water should be very weedy, you will 

 be compelled to drop your bait into deep clear openings. 



" When you feel a run, let your line be perfectly free, and 

 allow the fish to make for his haunt without check ; and 

 when he stops, give out a little slack line ; by your watch 

 give him ten minutes to pouch the bait before you strike, 

 which you may then do, by first gently drawing in your slack 

 line, and then striking gently; but should your fish move 

 soon after he has been to his haunt, give him line, and he will 

 stop again ; but, after this, if he move a second time before 

 the ten minutes are expired, strike, and you will most likely 

 secure him ; but if he has only been playing with the bait, you 

 will have lost him. When I have been so served once or 

 twice, I generally resort to my snap-tackle. 



" If you have fairly hooked your fish, he cannot easily 

 break away; and as your tackle is strong, unless he is very 

 large, you need not give out much line, but hold him fast and 

 clear of the weeds, giving him but a short struggle for his 

 life. The gaff is better than a net for landing a large pike, for 

 he is dangerous to handle, and his bite is much to be dreaded. 



" When you are without either gaff or landing-net, seize 

 the fish by putting your finger and thumb into his eyes." 



The pike is sometimes angled for with worms, when the 

 water is clear, and the game runs small. Elaine says : 



" Worm-fishing for jack is a species of live-bait angling, 



