THEPIKltC. 127 



larly proper when the water is shallow. On this subject, 

 Salter says : ' In the summer months, when the water gets 

 low and bright, from a continuance of dry weather, I have 

 found, when I used traces made of the choicest twisted gut, 

 instead of gimp, and hooks also tied to twisted gut, that I 

 have killed more jack and pike, either when trolling with the 

 gorge, or live-bait fishing, than I could if I used gimp. This, 

 you are to observe, is only during the summer, when jack 

 and pike are not much on the feed, and the water is very 

 bright they seem shy of coarse tackle; but not so in winter 

 and spring, for they are then well on the feed and the water 

 is generally somewhat discolored, at which time and seasons 

 I believe jack and pike would take a baited hook if it was 

 tied to a clothes' line or rope." 



Another mode of taking the pike is by baiting with a 

 small fish on the gorge-hook, which Hofland says is " either a 

 double or single hook, fixed on a twisted brass wire, and loaded 

 on the shank with lead, to which is attached a piece of gimp, 

 eight or ten inches long, at the end of which is a small loop. 

 To bait this hook you must have a brass needle, about seven 

 inches long; put the loop of the gimp in the eye or small 

 curve of the needle; then put the point of the needle in at 

 the mouth of the fish, and bring it out at his tail ; bring the 

 gimp and wire along with it, the lead being fixed in the belly 

 of the bait fish, and the hook or hooks lying close to the out- 

 side of the mouth; then turn the points of the hooks towards 

 his eyes, if a double hook, but if a single one, directly in a 

 line with his belly ; next tie the fish's tail to the arming wire 

 very neatly with a strong thread. To the line on your reel 

 you must attach a gimp trace 24 inches long, having a swivel 

 at each end, and one in the middle. The spring-swivel at 

 the end of your line, is to be hooked on the loop of your 

 baited trace, and you are ready for sport. 



" When you are thus prepared, drop in your bait lightly 

 9 



