6S ANGLERS' E VENINGS. 



pression that any sort of tackle is good enough. Many 

 times have I seen the amateur angler fishing for " what 

 he could get" with a line something like a signal halyard, 

 at the end of which was tied, in the most marvellous 

 complication of knots, a hook, either as small as he 

 should have used if he had been fishing for stickle-backs 

 in a pond, or else as large as a conger hook, and 

 baited with all sorts of wonderful bait. Even the 

 professional fishermen are no exception to the rule, 

 though now and then you will find one who has been 

 converted and learnt to " fish fine," with the result of 

 making much better hauls than those who insist upon 

 following the old-fashioned method. There is no greater 

 mistake than to use rough, coarse tackle for sea fishing, 

 whether with the rod or the hand line. Doubtless 

 a very large quantity of fish may be taken with any sort 

 of tackle when they are on the feed, but the experience 

 of those who have tried fishing with fine and carefully- 

 made tackle is, that even when fish are not greedily 

 feeding, twice the number may be taken. Sea fish, of 

 course, are somewhat unsophisticated, and have not had 

 the careful training of the wily trout in the Dove or other 

 well-fished Derbyshire streams, but we must give them 

 credit for not being stupidly blind and unable to see a 

 line like a cart rope, or a hook about the size of an 

 anchor, on which has been placed a microscopic portion 

 of mussel or dead fish. 



Perhaps the best lines for sea-fishing with rod 

 are the dressed lines manufactured by the Manchester 

 Cotton Twine Company, and I should advise anyone 



