330 ILLino1is NatrurAL History SuRVEY BULLETIN 
succeeding sections. The terminology rec- 
ommended by the committee tor commer- 
cial fishing devices is used in this paper. 
Angling Devices 
Angling refers to the capture of fish 
with either single or multiple hooks at- 
tached to a line. 
Jugs or Floats (Single Hook) .—- 
Some fishermen on the Mississippi River 
use jugs or floats with a hook and bait at- 
tached to each, fig. 2. The jugs or floats 
are floated downstream and are often 
very effective in taking large catfishes, 
blue and flathead. These fishing devices 
provide sport as well as meat, especially 
when a 25- or 30-pound catfish takes the 
bait. 
Trot Lines (Multiple Hooks).— 
Trot lines and throw lines are multiple: 
hook fishing devices common on the Mis- 
sissippi. Throw lines are favorites among 
cs Va 
Vol. 26, Art. 4 
sport fishermen, but they are seldom used 
by commercial fishermen. Trot lines are 
of some importance as commercial tackle, 
fig. 3. They are fished mainly for cat- 
fishes in the Caruthersville-Dubuque sec- 
tion and to a lesser extent for carp, bull- 
heads, and freshwater drums. 
In 1947, 2.8 per cent of the reported 
Illinois commercial catch from the Missis- 
sippi was taken with trot lines, also known 
as set lines (Upper Mississippi River 
Conservation Committee 1948, third sec- 
tion:19). In this same year, 10.4 per cent 
of the reported Missouri commercial 
catch from the Mississippi was taken on 
trot lines (set lines). At the time of the 
survey, regulations relative to the number 
of hooks that a fisherman might use varied 
among the states. 
A trot line consists of a heavy cord to 
which are tied, at intervals of 2 to 3 
feet, short drop lines, to each of which is 
tied a single hook. The ends of the cord 
Fig. 2.—Rigging up floats on the Mississippi River for blue catfish. Float fishing, or jug 
fishing, is more popular on the Mississippi below the mouth of the Missouri River than above. 
