32 EXPERIENCES OF SPORT. 



Now the first bait we will try shall be a dead one. 

 I shall kill a fish carefully ; not a scale must be 

 bruised or hurt. The muffs/' he continued, 

 " rap a fish on the head, and bait with it, and 

 think it all right"; but that will not do for this 

 gentleman. The fish must be properly killed, 

 and properly put on the trace. Ten hooks, my 

 boy that is three threes and a lip hook, not a 

 sliding one. A sliding one is not worth a rap. 

 Make your flight the proper length for your bait ; 

 no Limerick hook, or brazed ones. I would not 

 give a farthing for either one or the other. I 

 am an old-fashioned fellow, and have my own 

 ideas. I may be wrong, possibly I am, but the 

 proof of the pudding is in the eating, and I 

 can catch fish when many cannot. I shall tie a 

 flight or two for you in my own way, three 

 together, but all single hooks, and I shall bait 

 for you. D. made Sir F.'s keeper do the same 

 for him, because, I suppose, he was afraid of 

 soiling his hands, poor fellow ! But I shall bait 

 for you, not that I doubt your capabilities, but I 

 will do it myself. Now you will see my bait go 

 through the water without a wobble, and like a 

 streak of greased lightning. Let your bait sink 



