126 
THE PIKE, AC. 
wider apart, say from two to three feet from each other. 
The solid rings, or patent guides, as they are called, and the 
patent tip or end, should be preferred. 
The manner of baiting, where a single hook is used, for 
live or dead bait-fishing, is the same as that before described 
for trout. 
The Bottom-Tackle is sometimes fitted up with swivel- 
traces, which Blaine thus describes: “ The single, is thus 
made : to about 10 or 12 inches of gimp, add a hook-swivel 
at one end, and a loop at the other; the hook of the swivel 
will receive the loop also of the gimp-hook, and the gut loop 
will receive the reel line by a draw bow-knot, which it will 
be prudent occasionally to examine, when the reel line used is 
one either of hair, or silk and hair, as such knots made in 
them sometimes loosen, but in the plaited silk this never 
happens. It will be necessary to add three or four swan 
shots to the trace, or otherwise a dip-lead , * either of which 
should be fixed just above the swivel. Note here, that it is 
necessary to add some weight to all the fish-bait beyond their 
own: the intention of which is, that the increased resistance 
to the water, made by this means, occasions an increase in the 
velocity of their spinning, by way of counteraction. 
“ The Double Swivel-Trace, is made by uniting two 10 
inch lengths of gimp by a box-swivel: to one end of this 
trace, add another swivel of the hook kind, loop the remain 
ing end, and finish by adding to the trace by way of ballast, 
either swan-shot or a dip-lead. Note, that in the application 
of these traces, it may be sometimes more convenient, in 
stead of making a loop for receiving the hook-loop, to whip 
tho hook at once to the trace, and this may be more particu- 
* A sinker, with swivels attached to each end, dispensing with the 
swivel described, is generally preferred by American Anglers ; and also 
in tho double swivel-trace, one of the swivels is oftou omitted, and a 
swivel tinker used instoad. 
