THE PIKE, .& C . 
125 
the other, to vary the fishing according to circumstances, 
and likewise to enable the Angler at a distance from his 
6tores, to have recourse to snap-fishing, if ho find the jack 
dainty ; this purpose may, however, be still more effectually 
answered by a second top, made wholly of whalebone, 
and less than half the length of the other. Where the angling 
mania has possession of a traveller, as it had of ourselves, it is 
of much importance that an article should be capable of be- 
ing converted into many purposes. By such a rod as wo 
have just described, he may troll in every water in the king- 
dom ; nay, he may extend his fishings to the enormous pike 
of the Canadian lakes, mailed over with rhomboidal scales, 
and yet he may not return without a successful run. 
u Captain Williamson says, that * the spare top of an ordi- 
nary bottom-rod, which is occasionally employed for jack 
trolling, should be firm, and not too pliant, so that it will bear 
a weight of four pounds hung to the hook without breaking. 1 
Mr. Salter on this head, says : ‘ I have two tops to my troll- 
ing rod, which I always carry witH me, in case of breaking 
one, &c. ; one is made very flexible of wood, and a whale- 
bone top, about two feet long; to this, for strength and secu- 
rity, I have a ring in the wood part, as well as the large one 
at the whalebone top ; this top I always use when trolling 
with the gorge-bait, or when fishing with live bait; the other 
top is made wholly of stout whalebone, about one foot long; 
this I use only when snap-fishing, for which it is well adapted 
by its superior strength and stiffness.’ 
“ The length of the rod for live-bait- fishing and trolling, may 
vary from 15 to 17 feet, according to circumstances ; if its 
wood and workmanship can be depended upon, 16 feet is in 
uo case too much ; and where extensive streams are fished 
over, one of 16 or 18 feet is convenient.” 
The Rings or Guides for the Line , on a trolling rod, 
should be much larger than those for salmon or trout, and 
