200 NOTES .ON FISH AND FISHIXU. 



to the youthful angler at his side. The picture showed 

 the hook of the bait fast in a log of wood at the bottom 

 of the river. Of course, a first-rate fisherman generally 

 knows when a fish has " struck," and when he has struck 

 some subaqueous impediment ; and if he is in any doubt 

 he can generally, by a slight tentative tightening of the 

 line, tell whether a fish has his bait or not ; — but not to 

 every angler is given that sensitive faculty. As a some- 

 what idle fisherman, I rather like live-bait gorge-fishing, 

 but when fish are well " on " the " snap " style is the 

 best sport, and requires much more piscatorial science. 



As regards the best time of the year and the best 

 weather for jack-fishing, I must humbly say that I am 

 at variance with most authorities. It is generally said 

 that November and December are the best months j I think 

 February, at least the early part of it. If, however, I had the 

 power of making " fence " months for jack, I would make 

 it illegal to take one between the festivals of St. Valentine 

 and St. Parti idge. It is generally said that cloudy, cold 

 days and rough water are most conducive to good sport. 

 I prefer rather bright, warm, and even still days. I quite 

 admit I may be wrong, but my experience is my voucher 

 for so saying, my best days' sport for many years having 

 been had on comparatively warm, bright, and still days. 

 A fisherman who essays to use pen, ink, and paper ought 

 always to record his own experience. What everybody 

 says is not always true as regards sport; for instance, 

 about " a southerly wind and a cloudy sky " proclaiming 

 the hunting morn. In the Pytchley and some other 

 countries a touch of north wind improves the scent. 



One word as to the frame of mind of a jack when he 

 takes a spinning or a live bait. Though there has been 



