418 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 
needle and insert it behind the back fin, bringing it out 
again at the mouth and drawing the gimp after it, so that 
the short hook stands with the point rising out of the back, 
and the others are one on each side the belly; this bait 
ought to spin well. Second plan—exactly similar to the 
mode recommended by Mr. Stoddart of applying three 
hooks to the parr-tail, only that in England it is used with 
a whole fish, and the hooks point towards the head. Mr. 
Stoddart’s plan is no doubt the best, and with a tail of 
the roach, dace, or perch, is admirably adapted to pickerel- 
fishing. Third plan—in this mode four hooks are used, 
which are separately whipped on to two pieces of gimp, 
looped at the other ends; one about three quarters of an 
inch in length, the other about three times as long. After 
arming them with the baiting-needle, they are each passed 
through the fish, the short one at the shoulder, the other 
near the tail, and both the loops being brought out at the 
mouth are attached to a hook-swivel, after which the mouth 
is sewn up and the bait is finished and ready for use, though 
sometimes, in addition, a leaden weight is sewn up in the 
mouth to sink the bait. The spring-snap bait is a more 
complicated machine, and is composed of a case which 
connects and keeps in place the shanks of the hooks, which, 
when in the case, resemble the common snap-hook, but 
which, when drawn out, expand by their own elasticity, 
and strike the fish in the act of so doing. This is 
sometimes applied to a live fish, but usually to a dead 
roach or shiner, or to a small bream. The bait should 
be about six ounces in weight, for a smaller one will not 
effectually conceal the hooks. In baiting the hooks, insert 
