238 ON SURREY HILLS. 



few lines to what I have already said about the tackle 

 and bait used for his capture, and also in regard to a 

 quite other foe of this fish than the follower of the 

 gentle craft. 



As to tackle, have it of the best, neat and strong ; 

 and your baits, living or dead, of the freshest that can 

 be procured. It is the same with pike as it is with 

 certain people who rejoice, as a rule, in excellent ap- 

 petites — they require a little coaxing at times. 



The salmon, one of the strongest, if not the strong- 

 est, fish that visits fresh water, is captured with a gaudy 

 lure called a fly, tied on a cast of gut. Pike-fishers 

 have taken the hint lately and profited by it. 



Trimmers and night-lines have been used in some 

 waters lately for the capture of huge pike which had 

 lived there far too long. To the great surprise of 

 those who set the lines, the baits had been taken, and 

 the pike or pikes disappeared. That the baits had 

 been taken they had conclusive evidence, for in some 

 instances a portion of a pike's jaw was found on the 

 hook or hooks. As this occurred on private waters 

 well watched, there was a mystery about it which 

 remained unsolved. Would it not have involved an 

 interference with the business of others to have done 



