THE PIKE, &C, 



131 



the fish at once, instead of allowing him to take the bait away 

 to his hold ; the principal, and indeed the only difference be 

 ing, that when we go out with the intent of snap-angling, oui 

 hooks are large, and ought to be strong also, and our rod is 

 strong and short. 



" Directions for making a Live Snap-Bait. Take two 

 strong hooks, of size No. 3 or 4, according to the strength ot 

 their make, as well as the size of the bait : tie each to about 

 an inch and a quarter of fine twisted wire, and again tie these 

 two wires together, including in the tie a hook* No. 8 or 9, 

 and also eight or ten inches of gimp, which loop at the other 

 end : but in the tying, place the large hooks, contrariwise, so 

 that one may point towards the head, and the other towards 

 the tail of the bait-fish, which will greatly increase the chance 

 of success when using it. To apply this, enter the small 

 hook under the back fin, and allow one of the two large 

 hooks to apply itself close to one side of the bait, and the 

 other to be similarly placed on the other, but with the direc- 

 tion of their points reversed. We have often, even when the 

 spring-snap has been in our book, made use of this more sim- 

 ple plan in preference, particularly where our only baits were 

 gudgeons. A good sized roach or dace can conceal the snap, 

 but it is hardly applicable in any way to a small fish. 



" Dead-Bait Spring-Snap. This machine can be applied 

 either to the dead or living bait ; it is, however, we think, 

 more applicable to the former, as it requires a sufficient hold 

 on the bait to offer a resistance equal to the springing snap, or 

 the benefit is lost : such a hold is injurious to the live bait, 

 and soon destroys it. No bait answers so well for the placing 

 of the spring-snap, as either a roach, bream,t or perch, on 



* These hooks should be tied near the top, in a similar position to 

 that on the spring snap-hook, described on plate of hooks. 



t Any of the small fish that inhabit the stream with the pike, will an 

 swer the purpose, and be equally acceptable. 



