282 AMERICAN FISHES. 



of Dace, Bleak or Gudgeon for bait, we must substitute the Roach, the 

 Minnow, the small Bream, the New York Shiner, Or, which is deci- 

 dedly the best and most killing of all, the young fry, or Parr, of the 

 Brook Trout. 



Like Mr. Hofland, I infinitely prefer trolling with the gorge-hook, 

 a representation of which is annexed below, to fishing either with the 

 common snap, or with what is here called the sockdoUager-hook ; 

 which last I regard as a great and dangerous humbug. 



The rod for Pike-trolling is well described below by Mr. Hofland, 

 but one of Conroy's best general rods with spare tops — which is, in 

 fact, the best for everything except fly-fishing, such as is used for Bass 

 or Weak-Fish though with rather a stronger or stifFer top — will be 

 found all-sufficient. In my opinion, a large click-reel, such as we use 

 for Salmon, and a stout silken line of a hundred yards or better, will 

 be found preferable to the contrivances of which Mr. Hofland dis- 

 courses. 



In casting the bait, the butt of the rod should be set against the 

 right hip, with the point inclined to the left ; the bait should hang at 

 the end of some ten or fifteen yards of line, and as many more should 

 be drawn off the reel and held loosely in the left hand, the right hand 

 grasping the butt about a yard above its extremity. 



The body should then be turned slowly to the left, and brought 

 round again, with a quick jerk, to its original position ; the rod, as 

 described before, will follow the same motion, and deliver its bait with 

 great velocity and accuracy, the left hand playing out the line and 

 checking its motion gently, so as to drop the bait upon the surface al- 

 most without creating a ripple, certainly without a splash. 



A little practice will soon enable the merest tyro to deliver a dead 

 bait on a leaded gorge into the circumference of his hat at twenty-five 

 or thirty yards ; and let him remember, that the longer his casts, the 

 better and more like to kill. 



The bait, after being cast, should be drawn gently and gradually 

 home, the left hand constantly giving out and retracting the line ; 

 which, with the aid of one or two swivels above the gimp arming of 

 the gorge-hook, will cause the fish to spin and glance beautifully in 

 the water, and will render it a most attractive bait. 



Hofland 's instructions for striking and playing this fine fish cannot 



