12 SPRING ANGLING 



There are, as I have hinted, a dozen or more 

 species of the sucker in American waters ; but the 

 broolc sucker is the one most generally known to 

 boys, and the ways of its capture are suitable for 

 all the others. Now, the sucker is an early spring 

 spawner ; that is, it begins to seek the brooks and 

 shallow inlets of a river or lake to deposit its eggs 

 just as soon as the ice begins to go out. It gener- 

 ally also herds or goes in shoals ; and it is at this 

 time, whilst the water is still very cold, that the 

 sucker takes the baited hook most freely, though 

 it can be caught all the year till the winter ice 

 and snow shut up the water. Ordinarily the fish is 

 snared with a wire or horsehair collar, or speared, or 

 even netted, being thought of little worth as a food 

 or sport fish ; but I do not approve of the slaying of 

 any fish thus unfairly when it is capable of giving 

 pleasure in its pursuit and capture ; and, therefore, 

 the way to fish for sucker with hook and line is the 

 only method that I shall describe in these pages. 



It is seasonable to fish for suckers before the 

 legal season in some States opens for trout, and 

 even before the leaves begin to appear on the 

 trees. It is not necessary to use fine tackle ; 

 but, of course, if you happen to have a nice rod 



