70 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



this particular portion of the trace by a small brass 

 swivel attached to the lower end. To the lower loop of 

 this small swivel is fastened about two feet of single 

 salmon gut, the hook (a No. 4 Limerick) being tied on 

 with the ordinary gut knot, so as to make a perfectly clean 

 run for the last three feet of the trace. Thus a trace of 

 seven feet in length gradually tapering from the reel line 

 to the hook is made. I think it preferable to use tinned 

 hooks, as they do not rust, and are nearly the colour 

 of the baic usually used in trolling. 



The reason for using two leads placed as I have 

 explained is this, that the heavier lead close to the reel- 

 line enables you to keep the proper depth, while the 

 light lead three feet from the bait steadies it and ensures 

 much more easy and attractive spinning than can be got 

 by the mere bait streaming behind, zvJien yoii are trolling 

 sloivly. In a variable tide-way, and in sea-fishing, slow 

 trolling is very much the most killing. As a rule the best 

 fish are taken with the troll, and it is a very good plan if 

 fish are not taking well, to spin the bait, by sinking and 

 raising the point of the rod slowly, and so slightly varying 

 the speed and depth of the bait. Some persons advise 

 that the speed of the bait should be varied by an occasional 

 spurt of three or four strokes, but the variation of speed 

 can be attained with so much greater delicacy by working 

 the rod, that I much prefer it. 



Undoubtedly the bait of bait for sea-trolling is the 

 sand launce, commonly, but erroneously, called the sand 

 eel, the former being the Ammodytes Lancea, and never 

 exceeding the length of seven inches — the latter being 



