WIRING. 121 



that the pike is so deeply engaged in watching 

 the man's eye that it does not notice the wire in 

 front of its nose is ingenious ; also another 

 theory, that there is some snake-like fascination 

 in the man's eyes that keeps the fish spell-bound. 

 The obvious advantage of keeping one's atten- 

 tion fixed on the fish is that, should it not lie to 

 the wire, but dart off, the movement can be 

 followed, and, as soon as the pike has settled, a 

 fresh attempt may be made. Occasionally this 

 may happen five or six times, and the last effort 

 be crowned with success. 



On some days fish after fish will lie still and fall Best time for 



use of wire. 



a victim, and on other days, notwithstanding 

 every care, the pike seem imbued with a preter- 

 natural sense of danger, so that it appears 

 impossible to get the wire near them. As a 

 rule, hot, calm days are favourable, and windy, 

 cloudy, or cold ones unfavourable, for the work. 

 It is also worthy of notice that, in the forenoon, 

 pike generally lie far better to the wire than 

 later in the day. When once it is obvious that 

 the day is unfavourable, it is better to post- 

 pone the work to a later opportunity ; to go on 

 is only to make the pike more and more shy and 

 unapproachable. Often, if a fish darts away 

 from the wire and goes to weed, the application 

 of the butt end of the bamboo will drive it out, 

 and sometimes, after being driven out several 



