126 



THE PIKE, &C. 



wider apart, say from two to three feet from each other. 

 The solid rings, or patent guides, as they are called, and the 

 patent tip or end, should be preferred. 



The manner of baiting, where a single hook is used, for 

 live or dead bait-fishing, is the same as that before described 

 for trout. 



The Bottom-Tackle is sometimes fitted up with swivel- 

 traces, which Blaine thus describes: " The single, is thus 

 made : to about 10 or 12 inches of gimp, add a hook-swivel 

 at one end, and a loop at the other ; the hook of the swivel 

 will receive the loop also of the gimp-hook, and the gut loop 

 will receive the reel line by a draw bow-knot, which it will 

 be prudent occasionally to examine, when the reel line used is 

 one either of hair, or silk and hair, as such knots made in 

 them sometimes loosen, but in the plaited silk this never 

 happens. It will be necessary to add three or four swan 

 shots to the trace, or otherwise a dip-lead,* either of which 

 should be fixed just above the swivel. Note here, that it is 

 necessary to add some weight to all the fish-bait beyond their 

 own : the intention of which is, that the increased resistance 

 to the water, made by this means, occasions an increase in the 

 velocity of their spinning, by way of counteraction. 



" The Double Swivel-Trace, is made by uniting two 10 

 inch lengths of gimp by a box-swivel; to one end of this 

 trace, add another swivel of the hook kind, loop the remain 

 ing end, and finish by adding to the trace by way of ballast, 

 either swan-shot or a dip-lead. Note, that in the application 

 of these traces, it may be sometimes more convenient, in 

 stead of making a loop for receiving the hook-loop, to whip 

 the hook at once to the trace, and this may be more particu- 



* A sinker, with swivels attached to each end, dispensing with the 

 swivel described, is generally preferred by American Anglers ; and also 

 in the double swivel-trace, one of the swivels is often omitted, and a 

 s wive! sinker used instead. 



