74 SUMMER ANGLING 



worm or grasshopper, or either of the other bait 

 I mentioned, and gently swing it out. Presently 

 you will see by the tremulous motion of the bob 

 that a sun-fish is biting — then down it goes be- 

 neath the surface. A sharp strike fixes the hook 

 firmly ; and now you have quite a fight on hand 

 before the plucky little fellow gives up. Size for 

 size, he is little inferior to the trout in this respect, 

 though I am aware "comparisons are odorous," as 

 Mrs. Malaprop would say. A very good variation 

 of the tackle is thus made. Place the split shot 

 or sinkers (sufficient, of course, to " cock " the 

 float or bob) at the end of the leader. Now tie 

 one of the snelled hooks at a distance of six inches 

 above the sinker, at right angles, and above this, 

 at a distance of another six inches, tie on another 

 hook. You can thus use two kinds of bait, and 

 frequently catch two fish at a time. Should you 

 get two half-pounders hooked, you have got a con- 

 test indeed that will occupy all your wits and re- 

 sources for a few minutes. Especially as I urgently 

 insist you must not lift the fish from the water 

 until they have had their struggle out. Of course 

 if you, on the other hand, insist on doing so, you 

 must use very strong tackle, or be broken unex- 



