1010 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
b 
Fig. 262. Springkrolc, hollow, with the elastic arms held back by 
their pressure against the sides of the tube, as in a, or 
drawn out, as in b. 
Drag (spinning), also called Drag span, Oppror , 
Bottenror, etc., is a well-known kind of angling. A de- 
ceptive hook (tig. 264), or a range of hooks on a bright 
metal bait imitating a fish, is towed with a long line, 
which can be wound in on a reel (fig. 261, a ), after a boat 
rowed at an even and rather rapid pace. The fisher- 
man’s object is to attract the attention of the Pike in 
the same parts of the water as when trolling; but in 
this case he can manage without assistance if he holds 
the line between his teeth. Spinning is practised 
Fig. 263. Spinning-bait for Pike. 
throughout the summer and autumn, but the best 
season is from the middle of August till the end of 
September. 
Spearing by torchlight (eldstodjning) is perhaps 
one of the oldest kinds of fishing, and has advantages 
as being one of the least expensive. The method of 
using the light we have seen in the Stickleback-fishery 
(see above, p. 657, fig. 164); but when spearing Pike, 
the fisherman must find out the spot where the fish is 
standing, and when he strikes with the leister ( ljuster , 
fig. 264), he must aim the blow at the head of the fish, 
in case it should take to flight. Spearing is practised 
in spring and autumn', when the nights are dark, and 
off shores with shallow and clear water. 
Fish may also be speared in broad daylight. This 
kind of fishing is called ljustring (leistering), and is 
most often employed for Salmon on their upward jour- 
ney, but also for Pike when they are spawning on in- 
undated meadow-land. The fisherman always goes 
alone, and either stands on the shore or wades, with 
his creel on his back to receive the speared fish. But 
Fig. 264. Salmon and Pike spear, with the lower part of the shaft. 
as the fish are more difficult of approach in the day- 
time, he must be skilled in the special art of hurling 
the spear at his quarry. 
Spearing by torchlight is now less in vogue than 
formerly: more effective methods of fishing have been 
invented, and men of the craft have learnt by expe- 
rience that it frightens the fish from shore, and thus 
harms the fishery. 
We should mention one more way of catching 
Pike, though it can never be rewarded with any great 
success. When the Pike is spawning or standing among 
grass where it thinks itself hidden from sight, it may 
be captured by cautiously passing a noose of copper 
wire, attached to a stick, over its head until the noose 
is past the gill-openings, when the fish should be pulled 
up at once. 
(Ekstrom, Smitt). 
