50 Baiting on one treble hook. Ohapt. v. 



close against the fish. In this position they are scarcely 

 perceptible, whereas if one hook is carelessly only half 

 embedded, the other two stick out and show unnecessarily. 

 It is always worthwhile to bait very carefully and neatly, 

 because all your subsequent efforts centre on the nicety 

 of your baiting. Then you must have a sinker, also des- 

 cribed in the chapter on tackle. Pass the baiting needle 

 through the loop or ring attached to the sinker, and run 

 the sinker down the line, and push it, thin point fore- 

 most, down the fish's throat, so that it is entirely con- 

 cealed within the mouth of the bait. Then remove your 

 baiting needle, and hold the line so as to come out of 

 the bait's mouth exactly in the centre ; and so as to keep 

 it in the centre, and make the bait spin true, as well as 

 keep the lead from coming out, sew the bait's mouth up 

 as follows with a common needle and thread. Close the 

 bait's mouth, pass the threaded needle through both lips 

 so as to bring it out at one of the nostrils in the upper 

 lip, insert it at the other nostril, and pass it through 

 both lips again, keeping the line between these two stitches. 

 The two ends of the thread will then be over at the chin 

 of the bait ; draw them together just gently enough to 

 avoid tearing the bait, and yet tightly enough to keep the 

 mouth well closed. Tie a sailor's knot, not "a granny" 

 or grandmother's knot, and cut off the ends. Do not use 

 white thread for this, because it will show, but stout 

 black thread double, or any dark colored knitting silk 

 double, say brown for preferenee. Your bait is then 

 ready for use. 



