BOTTOM OR FLOAT FISHING, . 219 
fishing is a fine undressed spun cotton line, of the 
manufacture described at p. 26. The lower, or ‘float- 
line, should invariably consist of single gut, stained as 
directed at p. 30, and as fine as it can possibly be used 
w7th safety. This point is perhaps of more importance in 
bottom fishing than in any other kind of angling, because 
in this mode the fish have more time for examination 
before biting. They are able, as it were, to take a 
leisurely survey of the position and of the arrangements 
prepared for their benefit. MHazr should never be used in 
any kind of fishing, because gut can be procured which, 
when stained, is both finer and stronger than any hair. 
It is also transparent, whilst hair is opaque. Some ob- 
servations on this subject will be found in Chapter ITT, 
HOOKS. 
As regards the hooks, for the reasons already given in 
the chapter devoted to that subject, I recommend for all 
kinds of bottom fishing the patterns of hook therein 
described ; and the sizes mentioned in this part refer to 
the several sizes of those hooks as shown in facsimile at 
p.t1. The proper sizes for each fish and bait are given 
under the separate chapters. 
FLOATS. 
The best and most durable floats are made of por- 
cupine quill ; for the finer description of fishing, of a 
single quill simply, and where larger floats are required, 
