TAKING WHITING. 161 



by looping to pieces of whalebone, which are suspend- 

 ed from the dip lead, so that the hooks and baits do 

 not hang or twist together, the dip lead hanging be- 

 tween the hooks : having anchored the boat, and bait- 

 ed your hooks, put them overboard close to the side 

 of the boat j let them sink till you feel the dip lead 

 touch the bottom 5 hold the line between the thumb 

 and fore finger, lay the back of your hand or wrist 

 on the side of the boat, your thumb and fingers 

 inclining to the water, keeping raising the line and 

 hooks gently a few inches from the bottom, letting 

 it fall occasionally on the ground, which is easily 

 discovered by the dip lead touching the ground 5 

 but do not let it remain there, for Whiting bite 

 more a few inches above ; I only recommend the 

 dip to touch the bottom occasionally, that you may 

 judge the distance : when the Fish bite you will 

 feel a sudden snatch or jerk ; immediately strike, and 

 draw up your line ; sometimes you may loose the Fish 

 for want of sharp hooks. It ought to be noticed, 

 that those who are not accustomed to fish from 

 a boat, frequently think they have a bite -when it is 

 only the motion or rolling of the boat ; but a little 

 practice will soon enable the Angler to distinguish 

 the difference. When thus fishing for Whitings, 

 you frequently catch Plaice, Dabs, &c., as well as 

 ^Vhitings, sometimes a Whiting on one hook and 

 a Dab on another, at the same time ; I have caught 

 many a bucket full of those Fish near Margate, at 

 Hastings, at Weymouth, &c., from a boat. The 

 p 2 



