288 
THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
The other way of taking Pike, viz: with the snap, is as 
follows: 
Let the rod be twelve feet long, very strong and taper, 
with a strong loop at the top to fasten your line to. Your 
line must be about a foot shorter than the rod, and much 
stronger than the trolling-line. 
And here it is necessary to be remembered, that there 
are two ways of snapping for Pike, viz: with the live and 
with the dead snap. 
For the live snap, there is no kind of hook so proper as 
the double spring hook. To bait it, nothing more is ne- 
cessary than to hang the bait-fish fast by the back fin to the 
middle hook, where he will live a long time. 
Of hooks for the dead snap, there are many kinds: but 
the one, which, after repeated trials, has been found to 
excel all others hitherto known, we subjoin the descrip- 
tion and use of as follows, viz: whip two hooks, of about 
three-eighths of an inch in the bent, to a piece of gimp, in 
the manner directed for that trolling-hook. Then take a 
piece of lead, of the same size and figure as directed for 
the trolling-hook above mentioned ; and drill a hole through 
it from end to end. To bait it, take a long needle or wire; 
enter it in at the side, about half an inch above the tail, and 
with it pass the gimp between the skin and the ribs of the 
fish, bringing it out at his mouth: then put the lead over 
the gimp, draw it down into the fish’s throat, and press his 
mouth close, and then, having a swivel to your line, hang 
on the gimp. 
In throwing the bait, observe the rules given for trolling; 
but remember, that the more you keep it in motion the 
nearer it resembles a living fish. 
When you have a bite, strike immediately, the contrary 
way to that which the head of the Pike lies, or to which he 
goes with the bait; if you cannot find which way his head 
lies, strike upright with two smart jerks, retiring back- 
wards as fast as you can, till you have brought him to a 
landing place, and then do as before is directed. 
As the Pike spawns in March, and before that month 
rivers are seldom in order for fishing, it will hardly be worth 
while to begin trolling till April: after that the weeds will 
be apt to be troublesome. But the prime month in the 
year for trolling is October; when the Pike are fattened by 
their summer’s feed, the weeds are rotted, and by the fall- 
ing of the waters the harbours of the fish are easily found. 
Choose to troll in clear, and not muddy water, and in 
windy weather, if the wind be not easterly. 
Some use in trolling and snapping two or more swivels 
to their line, by means whereof the twisting of the line is 
prevented, the bait plays more freely, and, though dead, is 
made to appear as if alive, which, in rivers, is doubtless an 
excellent way: but those who can like to fish in ponds, or 
still waters, will find very little occasion for more 
than one. 
The Pike is also to be caught with a minnow; for which 
method take the following directions: 
Geta singlehook, slender, and long in the sfyink; let itre- 
semble the shape of a shepherd’s crook; put lead upon it, as 
thick near the bent as will go into a minnow’s mouth; place 
the point of the hook directly up the face of the fish. I et 
the rod be as long as you can handsomely manage, with a 
line of the same length. Castup and down, and manage it as 
when you troll with any other bait. If, when the Pike hath 
taken your bait, he run to the end of the line before he hath 
gorged it, do not strike, but hold still only, and he will re- 
turn back and swallow it. But if you use that bait with a 
troll, I rather prefer it before any bait that I know. 
In landing a Pike, great caution is necessary; for his 
bite is esteemed venomous. The best and safest hold you 
can take of him is by the head; in doing which, place your 
thumb and finger in his eyes . — Complete Jlngler. 
A SPORTING DIALOGUE. 
t 
Enter Monsieur Bremond. 
D . Good morning, Mr. B. ; how do you 
feel after your excursion yesterday? I understood you 
went after partridges. 
B . Oh, passablement, only leetel suffare vid de 
rheumatis. 
Z> . That is bad, but I heard you beat the whole 
company shooting; how came that? three of our best 
shots too! 
B . Oh, vy, yes, you see, de first bird ven he get 
up, Major C fire — pong , (imitating the report of the 
gun.) No ting. — Mons. D he fire — pong — No ting. — 
Mons. F he fire too — pong — No ting. — I take a de 
pinch’ of my rappee, (bringing his hands up in the line 
of aim,) p-o-n-g — dat put her down. 
D . Excellent indeed; but how did you like your 
young dog, you tried him a few days ago, did you not? 
B . (With great emotion,) oh, mine cot, if you had 
see de perform of Dash. I will confess, ma foi, I nevare 
have see dog like a dat — he range de field so grand, and 
for settin bird, dere is no dog like him. 
D . But what did you find? I suppose you killed 
a great many birds. 
B . (shrugging up his shoulders,) Ah, to be sure, you 
may say I did not see no ting. But I will confess, mine 
cot, I have in my life nevare see dog like a dat. 
