286 AMERICAN PISHES. 



the fish to make for his haunt without check ; and when he stops give 

 out a little slack line. By your watch, give him ten minutes to pouch 

 the bait before you strike, which you may then do, by first gently 

 drawing in your slack line, and then striking gently; but' should your 

 fish move soon after he has been to his haunt, give him line, and he 

 will stop again ; but after this, if he move a second time before the 

 ten minutes are expired, strike, and you will most likely secure him ; 

 but if he has only been playing with the bait, you will have lost him. 



" When I have been so served once or twice, I generally resort to 

 my snap-tackle. 



" If you have fairly hooked your fish, he cannot easily break away, 

 and as your tackle is strong, unless he is very large, you need not 

 give out much line, but hold him fast, and clear of the weeds ; giving 

 him but a short struggle for his life. The gaff is better than a net for 

 landing a large Pike, for he is dangerous to handle, and his bite is 

 much to be dreaded. 



" When you are without either gaff or landing-net, seize the fish by 

 putting your finger and thumb into his eyes. Half a dozen gorge- 

 hooks may be carried in a tin box, with a little bran, ready baited, 

 which will generally serve for a morning's sport. 



" ANGLING AT THE SNAP. 



" I shall first describe the old fashioned mode, although it is now 

 rarely practised. 



" The spring-snap was formerly much in use, and may be purchased 

 at any of the tackle shops. It consists of three hooks, the upper one 

 small, and the two lower hooks large. The spring confines the lower 

 hooks, but the spring gives way, and the hooks spread out when the 

 fish is struck, and hold him securely. 



" It is baited by introducing the point of the small hook under the 

 skin of the bait, on the side, and bringing it out at the back fin. Mr. 

 Salter gives the following directions for the double hook-snap, which 

 may be used either with a dead or live bait : 



" ' This snap-hook is a double hook, or two single hooks, No. 6, 

 tied back to back, on gimp ; to bait this snap, use the baiting-needle, 

 having first placed the loop of the gimp to which the hooks are tied 



