THE PIKE 99 



reduces the length of the brass wire, and leaves the 

 shank of the hooks comparatively free from lead. A 

 third pattern gorge-hook differs from these by being 

 fitted with a spring, which renders the escape of the fish 

 almost impossible when struck. To the two latter hooks 

 two or three feet of gimp are attached, with no further 

 sinkers than the lead with which the hook is loaded. 

 To the old-fashioned gorge-hook a few inches only of 

 gimp is attached, and this is hooked, or otherwise 

 fastened to the trace, which connects it with the 

 running line. This trace is fitted with two or three 

 swivels, which must always be kept well oUed. It 

 should be made of strong stained gimp, and in length 

 should be from two feet to a yard. Between it and the 

 gorge-hook an additional sinker may be attached, if one 

 is needed. These sinkers should be cast on one side of 

 a piece of wire, and attached to the trace by swivels, 

 and not threaded into the trace. 



To bait this gorge-hook, it is necessary to have a flat 

 brass or japanned needle, somewhat longer than the fish 

 you bait with. Fix the loop of the gimp bottom, or 

 trace, to the little hook at the butt-end of the needle. 

 Push the point of the needle in at the mouth of the 

 bait, drive it straight through the entire body, and 

 bring it out exactly between the forks of the tail. There 

 is a stiff membrane encircling the tail which will hold 

 the gimp firm, and prevent the necessity of tying a 

 thread round the tail — the clumsiest of all contrivances, 

 unless, perchance, the water be bunged up with weeds, 

 and then it may be excusable. A good plan is to trim 

 the tail with a pair of scissors, and loop the gimp over 

 the tail. This is an excellent plan when the short 

 arming wire is used to the hooks. The lead should be 

 pared away near the shanks of the hooks, so as to permit 

 the mouth of the fish to be closed. 



Some fishermen on the Tweed recommend that the 

 bait should be thrown direct from the winch, but this 

 demands too much force and strength to be usefully 

 adopted, and it is contraiy to the experience and practice 

 of the old trollers and their modern successors. The 



