32 THE angler's guide. 



without the assistance of a clearing ring, he frequently 

 loses his float as well as hook and line, and breaks his 

 top joint. The brass clearing rings are to be prefer- 

 red, because they are jointed, and, inconsequence, can 

 be used when the 'Angler has a winch on his rod, in 

 which case, the leaden ring could not be passed over 

 the winch. These useful articles to the Angler are to 

 be met with at the fishing-tackle shops. 



The disgorger is an instrument with a forked top, 

 about six inches long, made of bone, iron, or brass : 

 fSee Plate 3, of Angling Apparatus, Fig. 1 :J when the 

 Fish has swallowed the hook, the forked end of the 

 disgorger is thrust down upon it with one hand, while 

 you hold the line tight with the other, which disengages 

 the hook, and permits it to be easily drawn out. This 

 is the safest way to unhook a Fish that has gorged the 

 bait, or got the hook fixed in its throat ; because, by 

 using violence with the thumb and finger, or disengag- 

 ing it, you sometimes break a fine or small hook, either 

 at the point, barb, or shank, which causes loss of time 

 and much vexation in having another hook to put on, 

 to plumb the depth again, &c. which is all absolutely 

 necessary to be done, or you may as well give over 

 fishing. But when the Fish is hooked through the lip, 

 the Angler has only to hold the Fish steadily in one 

 hand, while, with the other, he carefully takes away the 

 hook. — Note, when a large Fish has gorged your hook, 

 and you are alone, the best way to act then is, first, to 

 fix a small piece of stick from the upper jaw to the lower 



