148 THE PATERNOSTER LINE. 



dropped in to tempt the fish that seek refuge in 

 such localities. 



The Paternoster line is one containing several 

 hooks whipped on short stiff pieces of stout gut or 

 bristles, so as to project from the foot-line hori- 

 zontally into the water, and to present divers 

 baits of different sorts and sizes. A plummet is 

 fixed to the bottom of the line, to sink it and 

 keep it steady ; and the hooks and baits are placed 

 from a foot to two feet apart, according to the 

 depth of the water. Three or four hooks are 

 quite sufficient for the paternosters used in most 

 of our rivers. The hook nearest to the bottom 

 may be baited with a worm, the one next to that 

 with a live gudgeon or dace, and the highest hook 

 with a live minnow. The paternoster is very 

 successful in the rivers, canals, and docks near 

 London ; it is very easily used, requiring little 

 more than close watching. If you wish to fish 

 moving onwards with the current, use a perforated 

 bullet, in lieu of the plummet, at the bottom of 

 your line. 



The Gorge-hook. Until you employ this tackle, 

 you can scarcely be said to troll. The preceding 

 modes of taking fish with fish -baits, though I have 

 placed them under the head of ' Trolling,' do not 

 embrace pure trolling. To troll, you must cast 

 your bait with a coiled line to any distance you 

 propose ; and then, by drawing your line in with 



