RIVER FISH AND FISHING. 889 
the fish will be attracted by them, but will take the scoured 
gentle on the hook in preference. 
Dead fish as baits are usually so arranged on the hooks 
as to spin or rotate on their axis rapidly, by the action 
of the current, or by drawing them through the water. 
This is an unnatural motion, and unlike any movement of 
any known inhabitant of the river; nevertheless, it takes 
well with many fish; and, judged by that unerring crite- 
rion, may safely be approved of and adopted. Minnows, 
trout-tails, bream, shiners, and other small fish, are 
thus used ; but the preference is always given to the two 
first when they can be procured. There are various modes 
of baiting with minnows and these small fish, and almost 
every fisherman has his particular whims and oddities here 
as well as in other matters connected with fishing. Noth- 
ing could more completely disprove the necessity for the 
adoption of any peculiar mode of baiting than the immense 
variety in the plans of the most successful anglers. Some 
use one hook, some two, some three, and others even four. 
Some—as for instance, Mr. Stoddart—bait tail foremost 
after removing the head; others always take care to pre- 
sent the head to the trout or pike. The great thing to be 
attended to is to make the bait spin well, which can only 
be done by producing a slight curve in its body, and by 
making the line draw it on one side more than the other. 
In this way, with one or two swivels, which prevent the 
line throwing any impediment in the way, the bait rotates 
rapidly if well applied, and the fish is deceived to his ruin. 
When two hooks only are used, the extreme one is larger 
than the other—usually Nos. 3 and 5, English sizes—and 
