128 
THE PIKE, &C. 
before you, then cast it on each side, and let the third throw 
be across the river, or as far as you can reach ; still letting 
the bait fall lightly on the water. In each cast let your bait 
fall nearly to the bottom; then draw it up gently towards 
you, and again let it sink and rise till you draw it out of the 
water for another cast. 
“ The further you throw your bait if the water be broad, 
(provided always that it fall lightly,) the greater your chance 
of success, so that you are not interrupted by weeds, roots of 
trees, &c. ; and if the water should be very weedy, you will 
be compelled to drop your bait into deep clear openings. 
“ When you feel a run, let your line be perfectly free, and 
allow the fish to make for his haunt without check ; and 
when he stops, give out a little slack line ; by your watch 
givo him ten minutes to pouch the bait before you strike, 
which you may then do, by first gently drawing in your slack 
line, and then striking gently ; but should your fish move 
soon after he has been to his haunt, give him line, and he will 
stop again ; but, after this, if he move a second time before 
the ten minutes are expired, strike, and you will most likely 
secure him ; but if he has only been playing with the bait, you 
will have lost him. When I have been so served once or 
twice, I generally resort to my snap-tackle. 
“ If you have fairly hooked your fish, ho cannot easily 
break away; and as your tackle is strong, unless he is very 
large, you need not give out much line, but hold him fast and 
clear of the weeds, giving him but a short struggle for his 
life. The gafl is better than a net for landing a large pike, for 
ho is dangerous to handle, and his bite is much to be dreaded. 
“ When you are without either gaff or landing-net, seize 
the fish by putting your finger and thumb into bis eyes.” 
The pike is sometimes angled for with worms, when the 
water is clear, and the game runs small. Blaine says: 
“ Worm-fishing for jack is a species of live-bait angling, 
