3892 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 
Minnows are also mounted on gorge-hooks : see wood- 
cut, in which a represents the hook itself, and 6 the fish and 
hook ready for use. Gorge-hooks are either single or double, 
the latter being represented in the annexed woodcut. In 
baiting this hook, after it has been whipped to a piece of 
strong gut looped at the other end, take a needle used for 
the purpose, and by its means draw the gut and hook 
through the mouth and body of the fish, bringing the 
needle out at the root of the tail, and leaving the hook 
buried in the body of the minnow, with the bend and barb 
of the hook on each side of its mouth. After the needle 
has been brought out, re-enter it on the other side, so as 
to include a picce of the flesh of the tail in a loop of the 
gut. If this is neatly done it will be found, after drawing 
the gut tight, that there is no disposition in the fish to slip 
off the hook, unless very flabby ; in which case a single 
turn of light silk tied tightly round the root of the tail, is 
sure to make all safe. Besides these modes some others 
are used in pickerel-fishing, but as they are peculiar to that 
department, they will be treated of under the head of 
Pickerel-F ishing. 
Dead bait-fish may be preserved for use, as well as other 
small baits, by keeping them in salt and water, or pyrolig- 
neous acid and water ; but the latter, I believe, gives them 
a flavor which fish do not like. Sugar also will answer the 
purpose, or any kind of spirit, as whiskey or gin; but by 
far the best material is oil, which will keep them sweet, 
and also stiff, for a great length of time, if they are just 
raised to the boiling temperature, by immersing the vessel 
containing the oil and fish in boiling water for a few min- 
