now TO USE THE DRAG HOOKS. 31 



waxed several lengths of silk together, and separated 

 them, to fix every one singly with a pin to a cushion, 

 such as are made to screw on the edge of a work-table ; 

 those cushions are to be bought at any toy-shop. Twine 

 may be waxed in single threads, the same way as prac- 

 tised by shoemakers or menders. 



How to use the Drag- Hooks, Clearing Ring, and 

 Disgorger. 



The drag is a piece of iron, with three or four stout 

 wire hooks without barbs, fSee Angling Apparatus^ 

 Plate No. 3, Fig. 5,J placed back to back, to which is 

 fastened a long packthread line j this is used to draw 

 away weeds that a heavy Fish may have got himself 

 or the line among, and also to recover any part of the 

 tackle that may be entangled in weeds, or to drag in 

 night-lines, cork-trimmers, &c. 



The clearing-line is made of several yards of strong 

 small cord, to the end of which is fastened a heavy 

 ring of lead or brass ; fSee Plate No. 3, of Angling 

 Apparatus, Fig. 6 ;) if the hook should get fast to a 

 heavy weed, post, or any thing else, this ring is put 

 over the rod, and suffered to go down to the hook ; 

 hold the rod in your right hand, the top pointing down- 

 wards, and the clearing line in your left, letting the ring 

 fall on the hook from what it may have stuck into ; if 

 not, hold the rod tight, and draw the line sideways, 

 and break away 3 in this case, the Angler seldom loses 

 more than a hook, if he acts as above directed 3 but, 



