Two Big Pike. 89 



then wound round the projecting part of the 

 wood on the white side, leaving a yard to two 

 or three, according to the depth of the water, 

 and to your fancy as to how deep you will 

 fish, hanging loose ; the line is then fixed at 

 the point you wish by putting it into a slit 

 cut in the cork. To this end of the line is 

 fastened the piece of gimp or twisted wire with 

 double hooks, the poor fish which you use as 

 bait having been first made fast to it. This is 

 usually done by making a couple of slits in the 

 skin of its back near the fin, the slits being 

 about half an inch to an inch apart, according 

 to the size of the bait, and passing the gimp or 

 wire in at one slit and out at the other ; this is 

 of course done with the living bait. Poor little 

 wretch ! no wonder he makes constant and 

 frantic efforts to escape, or plays, as Robert 

 called it. I always disliked live baiting on 

 account of its cruelty, but it is very deadly ; 

 and, as Isaac Walton says, '' you should handle 

 your bait gently, and as if you loved him." 



Having fixed your bait as quickly as pos- 

 sible, put it in the water (it has taken some 

 time to describe, but the whole operation can 

 be done in a few seconds) in the likeliest places 



