CH. i.] "HAND-COILING" LINE. 15 



and painstaking workman,) has probably a more 

 practical knowledge of it than most, being a good 

 fisherman himself: but spinning-tackle is of all 

 the most difficult to get properly made, and no 

 one, who does not make his own, can be too par- 

 ticular in seeing that his instructions are exactly 

 carried out. 



There is a plan for managing the line whilst 

 spinning, at which the Thames fishermen are great 

 adepts, and which cannot be too highly com- 

 mended, by which, instead of being dropped at the 

 feet in the usual way, as it is drawn in after a cast, 

 it is collected in the hollow of the hand, whence 

 it again runs out freely at the next. It is effected 

 by first taking the line between the middle of the 

 fore-finger and the thumb, then turning the hand 

 over, and catching the line above it with the little 

 finger, round which it is for the instant looped, 

 and then turning the hand again, so as to bring 

 the fore-finger and thumb again to bear upon the 

 line. This process is somewhat difficult to de- 

 scribe, and still more so to execute rapidly, as is 

 necessary where there is not much stream, or the 

 water is shallow. The accomplishment is however 

 a very valuable one, enabling the proficient, as it 

 does, to fish comfortably under many circum- 



