SEA ANGLING 



J 



FIG. 24. ROUND 

 BEND HOOK WITH 

 FLATTENED END 



line so under control that he is ready to strike at any moment, 

 and to be able to alter the conditions of his work as often as his 

 ideas or the conditions change. 



In rugged and weedy places the hooks must be kept free from 

 rocks and weeds. This may be done by letting down the rod line 

 with a lead at the bottom, and one or two hooks 

 fastened to gut at such a level as to keep quite 

 clear of weeds. A much better arrangement, 

 and one which we ourselves almost invariably 

 employ, consists of a light lead, as a rule not 

 exceeding an ounce in weight, fastened at the 

 end of the line, and below it a few feet of gut 

 terminating in a single hook. With such tackle 

 it is of course necessary to determine previously 

 the depth of the water, in order to adjust the 

 line to such a length that the hook keeps clear 

 of rocks and weeds, and a float may be used if 

 desired. 



We do not recommend a float for the general work of the 

 marine collector, for it is a decided advantage to be prepared to 

 bring the bait to any level from bottom to surface, especially when 

 the water is so clear that the fish may be seen swimming, in which 

 case one is often impressed with the desire to 

 capture a specimen in order to establish its 

 identity, and for such work as this a float is 

 superfluous. If, however, a float is used, it 

 should be a sliding one, so that it may be 

 adapted to the rising and falling of the tide. 



Of hooks there is a great variety to choose 

 from, differing in the form both of the curve 

 and of the end of the shank. As to the curve, 

 those with a decided twist are best adapted to 

 our purpose, chiefly on account of the fact that 

 sea fishes generally have larger moi-ths than 



fresh-water species of the same size, and are p IG 25. LIMERICK 



consequently better held with a twisted hook. HOOK, EYED 

 The shanks of sea hooks are either flattened or 

 eyed, and each is as good as the other providing the snood is 

 firmly attached ; but some amateurs find a greater difficulty in 

 attaching the snood to the former than to the latter. 



Gut snoods are recommended for our purpose, and fig. 26 shows 



