250 MODERN SEA FISHING 



If there is no current at all, it is a capital plan to throw in 

 fragments of crushed crab, mussel shells, raw potatoes and the 

 like over the spot, so as to fall just where the paternoster is 

 resting on the bottom. 



So much, then, for fishing on the bottom from boats. The 

 second method of fishing from what I may term a stationary 

 boat (though I am afraid people with ' feelings ' may deem the 

 term somewhat inaccurate) is by means of drift lines. For this 

 purpose the professional fisherman, if he can afford it, uses a 

 long line of twisted horsehair with half-ounce pipe leads placed 

 on it at every two fathoms. Mr. Wilcocks, in the ' Sea Fisherman,' 

 recommends these lines to be made in the following way : By 

 means of a twisting machine short lengths of lines are made, 

 each length containing three strands, and each strand contain- 

 ing from twelve to fourteen hairs. One length should be twisted 

 to the right, and the next length (to which it is knotted) to the 

 left, and so on ; the alternate reverse twists preventing the line 

 untwisting. For obvious reasons the hair should be from a 

 horse, and not from a mare, the best coming from the tail of a 

 young stallion. When twenty-two fathoms of black line have 

 been made, white hair should be used for nine feet, or rather 

 more, with three hairs less in each strand. To the end of 

 the white hair should be fastened two yards of plaited silk, and 

 to this two lengths of double twisted salmon gut. Then comes 

 the hook. 



On the black portion of the line, pipe leads (which are 

 threaded on while the lengths are being knotted together) are 

 placed at intervals of two fathoms (twelve feet). The pipe leads 

 are a little barrelled in the middle, and weigh half an ounce or 

 more ; the knots on the line prevent them slipping downwards. 

 Nowadays the hair lines of the tackle-makers are twisted in one 

 length, and no knots are required. The pipe leads are kept in 

 position by means of wooden pegs. It is important to shift 



