138 ACANTHOPTERYGII. — SCOMBRTD^. 



to whicli the flies are attached. The weight of 

 the plummet is a matter of some nicety, as on it 

 depends the depth at which the hooks run ; the 

 greater the speed the heavier must be the lead, 

 to insure the same depth ; a pound and a half 

 is the average weight. 



The snood is about twelve feet in length, to 

 carry the hooks clear of the plummet's wake. It 

 is ordinarily formed of fine hemp, but sometimes 

 of silk ; a length of gut or weed, such as is em- 

 ployed in Salmon-fishing, may, with advantage, 

 be interposed between the snood and the hook, 

 but this is generally omitted. The bait must be 

 conspicuous ; almost anything showy or glittering, 

 a piece of light blue leather, or a strip of scarlet 

 cloth, is frequently successful ; but the best is 

 a slice taken from the side of a Mackerel, about 

 two inches in length, and half an inch in breadth 

 at the free end, tapering to the end which is 

 affixed to the hook. A waving, vibratory motion 

 is imparted to this bait, very much resembling 

 that of a small fish. 



Some practice is required in order to determine 

 with precision when a fish is hooked. The weight 

 of the lead, and the constant but unequal action 

 of the water upon it, keep up a tremulous mo- 

 tion, that to the inexperienced hand feels very 

 much like the jerking of a fish. Some skill, 

 moreover, is needful in order to strike the fish, 

 even if he have actually touched the bait. The 

 Mackerel is said almost invariably to dart at the 

 hook in a direction across its course. It is, there- 

 fore, needful to strike forward when a bite is felt, 

 and after hauling in about a fathom of line to 

 sway it, a moment, gently in the hand. The jerking 



