392 MANUAL FOE YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



Minnows are also mounted on gorge-hooks : see wood- 

 cut, in which a represents the hook itself, and b the fish and 

 hook ready for use. Gorge-hooks are either single or double, 

 the latter being represented in the annexed woodcut. In 

 baiting this hook, after it has been whipped to a piece of 

 strong gut looped at the other end, take a needle used for 

 the purpose, and by its means draw the gut and hook 

 through the mouth and body of the fish, bringing the 

 needle out at the root of the tail, and leaving the hook 

 buried in the body of the minnow, with the bend and barb 

 of the hook on each side of its mouth. After the needle 

 has been brought out, re-enter it on the other side, so as 

 to include a piece of the flesh of the tail in a loop of the 

 gut. If this is neatly done it will be found, after drawing 

 the gut tight, that there is no disposition in the fish to slip 

 off the hook, unless very flabby ; in which case a single 

 turn of light silk tied tightly round the root of the tail, is 

 sure to make all safe. Besides these modes some others 

 are used in pickerel-fishing, but as they are peculiar to that 

 department, they will be treated of under the head of 

 Pickerel-Fishing. 



Dead bait-fish may be preserved for use, as well as other 

 small baits, by keeping them in salt and water, or pyrolig- 

 neous acid and water ; but the latter, I believe, gives them 

 a flavor which fish do not like. Sugar also will answer the 

 purpose, or any kind of spirit, as whiskey or gin ; but by 

 far the best material is oil, which will keep them sweet, 

 and also stiff, for a great length of time, if they are just 

 raised to the boiling temperature, by immersing the vessel 

 containing the oil and fish in boiling water for a few min- 



