THE PIKE, &C. 129 



that we and others have sometimes practised with success, 

 particularly where small jack are numerous, in ditches and 

 dykes, in marshes, &c. In our worm-fishing for jack, we 

 have found the brandling the most successful of all the varie- 

 ties, and our practice has usually been to employ two at a 

 time on a No. 3 or 4 hook ; we however did not use the 

 common wire hook, but the barbed or stronger kind, by 

 which means the strength was increased, though the appear- 

 ance was not rendered more formidable. And note, that this 

 kind of hook may be prudently used in all the various me- 

 thods to be detailed, when single hooks of small size are re 

 quired. Use a float correspondent to the nature of the water; 

 and if that be moderately deep and at all ruffled, let the float 

 be a small sized cork one ; but when the surface is not dis- 

 turbed, use a porcupine's quill, for the finer the tackle, the 

 greater the chance of success. Retire as far as possible from 

 the banks, and strike tolerably quick, at least after the second 

 tug is felt, by which time the jack has usually got the worm ^S^a -, 



within the throat." 



Live-Bait and Snap-Angling. These are favorite modes 

 of sport with many Anglers, but objected to by others on ac- 

 count of the spice of inhumanity with which the practice is tinc- 

 tured, by attaching the live bait to the hook, in anticipation of 

 a bite from the all-devouring jack. It is usually practised in 

 the summer months, when the water is low and clear, and the 

 game requires particular attention. The following methods 

 of baiting, frnm Elaine, are sufficiently compassionate for the 

 most fastidious member of the Humane or Peace Societies. 



" One of the most simple and least painful, is to pass the 

 hook under the back fin, just even with the roots of its rays, 

 including a small portion of its skin only, by which means the 

 fish will not be materially injured, and will continue to swim 

 strong, and show itself. In this method it has been found that 

 the struggles of the fish, or even the violence of the striking 



