44 PIKE AND OTHER COARSE FISH. 



water three times of five minutes each. He was exceedingly faint 

 and almost dead ; but immediately the brandy was given, he pulled 

 himself together, and in the course of a few minutes not only 

 recovered, but darted round the can with a rapidity positively 

 amazing. 



The result of the latter experiment tends in the most conclu- 

 sive manner to show to anglers the great value of a judicious 

 administration of brandy to a dace prior to being used for bait. 



How often have we felt the want of a nice lively dace when on 

 the warpath for pike ? To have the means at command of not 

 only restoring an inanimate bait, but also increasing its strength 

 and vigour, will be of much service to the angling fraternity. 



Since the above, letters have appeared from troUers stating 

 that excellent results have been obtained in practice by ' Dutch- 

 couraging ' their live-baits^ 



In order to give baits their best chance of surviving without 

 the artificial aid of brandy and watery it is well that the hands of 

 the troller should not be frequently inserted in the bait-can, as 

 this has the effect both of raising the temperature of the water, 

 and frightening, if not also bruising, the live-bait. The latter 

 should be taken out with the miniature hand-net sold for the 

 purpose, and killed as required. The most instantaneous and 

 effectual way of doing this is to give them two or three sharp 

 ' flips ' with the finger, or, in the case of large baits, taps with a 

 small stick, or else the handle of a fishing-knife, on the back 

 of the head until all sign of motion ceases. The first tap or 

 two, however, when scientifically delivered, generally stuns 

 them completely, and the death thus inflicted is probably 

 absolutely painless. 



To keep the baits lively and well, however, until the fated 

 moment, is not only humane, but eminently judicious from a 

 practical point of view. Failing a punt with a ' well ' in it, 

 which is in every way the most luxurious arrangement, there 

 remains, of course, nothing but the bait-can. As in many 

 other branches of fishing-tackle — using the word in its broader 

 sense— there have recently been made great strides towards the 

 perfecting of this very important desideratum. 



