140 FISHES AND FISHING. 



from a tree, in the shape of the letter Y, each arm 

 about four inches long ; at the point of the fork, a 

 strong piece of plaited cord to be made secure ; 

 this cord should be two feet in length. Upon the 

 two arms, wound elect fashion, i.e. in and out, from 

 fifteen to twenty yards of stout hempen line, if 

 platted the better ; a good sized round bullet with a 

 hole in it should be placed about ten inches from the 

 bait, and stopped by a large knot from going any 

 nearer to it, but there must be no knot above the 

 bullet ; one of the arms of the forked stick must have 

 at the end a shallow slit, which will fit the line not 

 too tightly. Attach the forked stick by the cord 

 from the point of it, firmly to a brick ; unwind four 

 or five yards of line, affix the bait, throw it in to the 

 extent of the line unwound, the remainder being 

 retained by the slight pressure of the slit, or cleft in 

 the arm of the forked stick, and then gently drop in 

 the brick. This is a method of securing your trim 

 mer from any intruder, who would probably walk 

 off with your tackle, and any fish it had hooked ; or,, 

 if you are sure no person can pass where you have 

 placed your trimmer, it may be pegged to the bank. 

 The manner of its action is thus : A pike or eel 

 takes the bait across his mouth ; the act of his doing 

 so, disengages the line from the cleft in the end of the 

 forked stick, he runs off some little distance, the line 



