284 MODERN SEA FJSHIA'G 



yards ; for the lead, which is large and conspicuous, must on 

 no account be near the bait. Next the bait should be a yard 

 and a half of the strongest salmon gut, either single, double, or 

 treble, according to the size of the fish which are likely to be 

 caught. There are some places where the largest probable pol- 

 lack is not more than 5 Ibs. ; others, again, where fish of 10 Ibs. or 

 12 Ibs. are likely to be met with in the course of any day's fishing. 



Between the gut and the lead either the ordinary hemp 

 snooding may be used, or one of the Manchester snoods, 

 or an eight-plait tanned silk, flax, or cotton line. Of course, 

 the finer it is the better, consistent with the necessary 

 strength. For bass I would advise a still longer snooding, 

 four fathoms or eight yards at least, for these fish are shyer 

 than pollack. When they are feeding near the surface, quite 

 light leads of only an ounce or two will suffice. This is not 

 generally recognised by the professional fishermen, whom I 

 have often seen sinking their lines by means of two- and 

 three- pound leads, quite four or five fathoms down, when 

 the bass were to be seen splashing about on the surface of the 

 water after sand-eels. 



There are not many pollack railing grounds over which 

 large yachts can be safely sailed, and even in small vessels the 

 helmsman must exercise great caution and care to prevent run- 

 ning aground. The tidal races in which bass are so frequently 

 found are particularly nasty places for yachts. A responsible 

 man should be at the helm not only by reason of the danger, 

 but also because sport depends very much on the way the yacht 

 is handled. As a general rule, few large pollack will be caught 

 unless the line can be kept over submerged rocks. When bass 

 are about and feeding just below the surface, very great skill 

 is required to place the baits among the fish without letting the 

 yacht pass through the shoals. In fact, harling (see p. 263) 

 under sail should be attempted. 



