FROM LAND AND PIER 199 



There are three typical positions on a rocky coast. The 

 angler may find himself standing on a precipitous rock with 

 deep water just under his feet, and is, as regards the fish, 

 much in the same position as if he were in a boat ; that is to 

 say, he can fish right underneath the point of his rod, and may 

 use a paternoster or float tackle whether the bottom be rocky 

 or sandy. If it be rocky and covered with seaweed the lowest 

 hook of the paternoster must be placed two feet or more above 

 the lead, so that it may play well above the weeds. The angler 

 may, of course, use an ordinary paternoster if only he be 

 careful not to lower the lead too near the bottom. Once 

 having ascertained the depth to which the lead should be 

 lowered in such places, it is a good plan to tie a small piece of 

 cotton round the line and unreel no further, readjusting the 

 cotton from time to time as the water rises. 



What I may term the second position is when there is a 

 sandy bottom coming right up to the base of the rocks. Then, 

 of course, the angler can fish in any way he pleases on the 

 bottom, in midwater, or near the surface. 



If the rocks stretch away for some distance, and the fish are, 

 say, fifteen or twenty yards out to sea, then to cast out bottom 

 tackle by which I mean tackle which lies on the bottom 

 among these rocks and seaweeds would be simply folly, as it 

 would be lost to a certainty ; the only plan, then, is either to 

 spin or to use float tackle. 



On the construction of float tackle there is not a great deal 

 to be said. The size of the hook and the strength of the gut 

 necessarily depend on the fish we expect to catch, and the 

 si/,e of the float is regulated by the weight of leads which it is 

 desirable to use to keep the bait near the bottom. If we have 

 to cast out a long distance, a large pear-shaped cork float and 

 at least an ounce of lead on the line will be required. But 

 there should be two clear feet of gut between the lead and the 



