370 Book of the Black Bass. 



back of the dorsal fin, and just above the backbone. But 

 in hooking a minnow in this way, the angler should bear 

 in mind the injunction of Father Izaak, in reference to 

 hooking the live frog: use him as though you loved him. 

 Chubs and suckers should always be hooked through the 

 lips, which are comparatively tough. 



The angler can not be too careful of his minnows. The 

 water in the bucket should be frequently changed, without 

 waiting for them to appear at the surface to breathe — the 

 usually accepted indication to change the water — for their 

 vitality and strength are already impaired when this takes 

 place, and many of them can not be revived afterward. 

 When available, especially in very hot weather, a piece' of 

 ice should be placed in the minnow pail, and covered with a 

 woolen cloth. A little salt, added to the water in the pail, 

 is very beneficial and adds to the preservation of minnows. 



It is a good plan, when practicable, to use two minnow- 

 buckets, one of which, containing most of the minnows as 

 a reserve, should be sunk in the water, and a few miimows 

 taken out, as needed, for the bucket in use. In this way, 

 the entire stock can be utilized in good condition. 



In carrdng minnows to any distance, they should not be 

 too much crowded in the pail ; fifty minnows is enough for 

 a five-gallon bucket. When more than this number is re- 

 quired, additional pails should be provided. A handful 

 of wafer-weeds in the pail will prevent the minnows from 

 being so much injured, as they otherwise would be, when 

 conveyed over rough roads. 



When it is not practicable to allow of a frequent chang- 

 ing of the water, the latter may be oxygenized or aerated 

 by inserting a rubber, or other tube, well toward the bot- 

 tom of the pail, and pumping air through it by means of 



