THE LAKE TROUT. 25 I 



reel or hand-line by a half hitch of the sinker-line, which is 

 about three feet long, and of weaker material than the reel- 

 line. So, if the sinker gets fast, and something must be 

 broken, you will lose only the sinker. From A to B there 

 should be a distance of about twenty-five feet. If the swivel- 

 line is used, it should connect the leader and reel-line. 



"Figure 2 shows Seth Green's hand-line, sinker, and three 

 gangs. The sinker is fastened to the end of the hand-line, 

 C C. The line, as I remember it, is about the size of a hard 

 braided linen line, number o. The gangs and leaders, A B, 

 twelve feet long, are fastened to the hand-line one above the 

 other. To use Seth Green's own words: 



'"The first leader is usually about three feet from the 

 sinker, and the others vary from eight to twelve feet apart, 

 according to where the fish are. If I do not catch them fish- 

 ing low, I raise the leaders, that is the two upper ones, but 

 leave the lower one the same. ' 



"The line with the single gang has the sinker fastened with a 

 half-hitch, so it can easily be taken off, for it is not desirable 

 to take the sinker into the boat when it is fast to the line, 

 as a run on the part of the fish might find the angler unpre- 

 pared to put the sinker overboard at the right moment. In 

 the spring, when the Trout are at or near the surface, little 

 or no sinker is required. 



"Let your line run slowly off the reel, checking occasion- 

 ally, and, as it were, feeling for the bottom with your sinker, 

 until it strikes; try and check your line at the moment of 

 contact, and reel in a few feet. As the boat moves on, 

 repeat this manoeuver until you have out the proper length of 

 line, and this depends much upon your sinker; a heavy 

 sinker means a short line, while a lighter one takes a longer 

 tine. The idea is to keep your sinker as near the bottom as 

 possible; you will touch once in a while, to make sure, but 

 do it lightly, and beware of rocks! 



"Spoon baits are also used in deep trolling, and in the 



