MINNOW-FISHING. 47 



EEEL. This should be large and easy running, 

 containing a fair quantity of line ; the best for 

 spinning is waterproofed silk, as it is less apt to 

 kink than others. The line should taper suffi- 

 ciently to allow the trace or casting-line to be 

 affixed directly to it ; and this trace should vary 

 in length and fineness according to the state of 

 the water when it is to be used. For thick or 

 flooded water a trace a yard long, with two 

 swivels, and composed of medium gut, is sufficient; 

 but for clear, much-fished streams it should taper 

 from thick trout gut, at the upper end, to the 

 very finest undrawn gut of which the two or 

 three strands next the hook should be composed, 

 and be from 6 to 9 feet in length. 



The best tackle, in our opinion, consists of a 

 long-shanked body hook, with a smaller lip-hook ; 



in spated water or large rivers a flying triangle 

 may be found useful. 



The size of the large hook should vary with that 

 of the bait. (Nos. 1 and 2 of Messrs. Bartleet's 

 round-bends are good general sizes.) The big 



