SEA FISHING FROM SMALL BOATS 231 



so myself ; but from some of the many letters received from 

 readers of that handbook, I have learnt that the rod can be 

 used successfully with leads even exceeding the weight men- 

 tioned, and that hand lines are in consequence much less used 

 than formerly. 



In the introductory chapter (p. 26) I explained where the 

 advantages of a rod came in, and I will only repeat now that it 

 enables one to use a fine strong line which on account of its 

 fineness could not with any degree of comfort be held in the 

 hand. By using this fine line the weight of the lead can be 

 much reduced ; but a fine line necessitates a reel, and a reel a 

 rod ; and the rod, by reason of its pliancy, gives us the oppor- 

 tunity of using fine gut tackle which we could never venture to 

 place at the end of a hand line. Sometimes it is desirable 

 to keep the bait quietly on the bottom, and this cannot be 

 done in bobbly weather except with the rod, the point of 

 which is easily raised or depressed according to the movements 

 of the boat. The longer the rod, the more easily can the move- 

 ment of the boat be humoured and the lead kept steady. This 

 steadying of the lead is one reason why many more fish are 

 often caught on lines worked with the rod than on hand lines. 

 Unfortunately, where a very heavy lead is absolutely necessary 

 a long rod cannot be used with any degree of comfort. 



Under certain conditions sea fish will unquestionably take 

 a suitable bait on any tackle, however coarse, as, for instance, 

 in the gloom of very deep water and at night, or when the 

 sea is thick after storms. But in the long run the amateur 

 fisherman beats the professional out of the field. Mr. C. N. 

 Hemy writes to me that when fishing on the Cornish coast 

 with modern appliances he has caught six times as many fish 

 as the local men. 



The best rod for boat work I have yet seen is one which 

 has been gradually worked out by members of the Gresham 



