SEA ANGLING 47 



require gentler treatment, and may be hooked and landed much 

 in the same manner as fresh-water fithes, since they are free 

 swimmers, usually keeping well clear of the rocks and weeds. 



If the day is calm, and the water clear, the sea angler will often 

 be able to watch various fishes as they swim, and to bring the bait 

 gently within their reach ; and here we find the advantage of the 

 rod as compared with the hand line. Sometimes quite a shoal 

 of small fishes may be seen sporting near the surface, and, as 

 a rule, there will be no difficulty in obtaining one for identification 

 and study. These are generally best secured by means of small 

 hooks, with but very little bait, and will often bite freely at the 

 tiniest fragment of worm on an almost naked hook. 



After the water has been searched at all depths, it will be well 

 to allow the bait to rest quite on the bottom, even at the risk 

 of losing a hook or two in the weeds and rocks. This may enable 

 one to take some fresh species of fish or to secure a crustacean or 

 other creature that is not often found between the tide-marks. 

 Care should be always taken, however, to keep the hook well clear 

 of the weeds that grow on the sides of the rock, and sway to and 

 fro with every movement of the restless waters. 



Angling from piers may be pursued much in the same manner 

 as described above in those places where the bottom is rocky, but 

 since the chances of hooking large fish are greater here than close 

 to shore, it is necessary to be provided with stronger tackle and 

 larger hooks. If, however, the bottom is sandy, the rod tackle may 

 be modified by placing the lead at the bottom, and arranging two 

 or three hooks above it, about one or two feet apart, the lowest one 

 being near the lead. With such an arrangement the line may be 

 cast some distance out, but for angling close to the pier itself there 

 is, perhaps, nothing better than the single-hook arrangement 

 suggested above, for with this one may fish on the bottom and 

 at all depths without any alteration in the tackle being necessary. 



If, however, the rod line is to be cast as suggested above, or 

 if a hand Line is to be similarly used, the following hints may be 

 useful as regards the arrangement of hooks and lead. 



The line itself may be of twisted silk or hemp, terminated with 

 about a yard of strong gut. The lead, preferably of a conical or 

 pear-shaped form, should be placed at the extreme end, and its 

 weight regulated according to the necessities of the occasion. A 

 few ounces of lead are quite sufficient where there are no strong 

 currents, but it is well to be supplied with larger sizes, to be 



