NET-FISHING IN WINTER. 109 



in the water. If a fish appears to be one foot below the sur- 

 face, he is really much deeper, and if you strike at the appar- 

 ent depth you will surely miss him. The spearman, however, 

 soon learns by his mistakes to make the proper allowances ; 

 and when he learns this, and attains self-poise, calmness, and 

 quickness of movement, will be successful. 



The places which salmon-trout choose for spawning are on 

 the westerly-looking shores of lakes, and the coasts of islands, 

 where the slope is gentle, and covered with large, clean gravel 

 and rocks. 



FISHING THROUGH THE ICE. 



In winter, brook trout may be caught on sand-bars, where 

 the water is two or three feet deep, and lake trout in deeper 

 water, by cutting holes through the ice and fishing with hook 

 and line. One person may fish with several lines in different 

 holes, by using tip-ups. These contrivances are made in this 

 way : Take a strip of shingle, or board, two inches wide and 

 twonty inches long. Bore a hole through it near one end. 

 Through the hole insert a stick, long enough to reach across 

 the hole in the ice. Then fasten your fish-line to the short 

 end of the strip, and drop the hooks into the water. When 

 a fish bites the long end will tip up and attract your attention. 

 Bait with any sort of meat. Cow's udder makes excellent 

 bait on account of its toughness. Salmon-trout are caught in 

 the same way, only in deep water, where the banks are bold. 



NET-FISHING IN WINTER. 



Fishing may be performed under the ice with gill-nets in 

 the following manner : The net is fastened with loops or 

 rings to a long, smooth pole. The loops or rings should be 

 large enough to slip easily along the pole ; or if preferred the 

 net may be hung on a rope, each end of which is fastened to 

 the ends of the pole. Two holes are then cut in the ice, the 

 length of the net apart, and the pole and net are sunk under 

 the ice and fastened between the holes. Two cords should be 

 attached to one end of the net, near the pole, and brought 

 up and fastened above the ice, one through each hole. When 

 the net is to be examined, it is drawn together at one end of 



