360 MODERN SEA FISHING 



and presses it into the slit of a wine cork which acts as a 

 float. 



The next proceeding is to lay the rod against the parapet 

 and, after pulling a sufficient quantity of line off the reel, to 

 throw the bait into the water, and then lower the baited hooks 

 (for the moment using the tackle as a hand line) under and 

 against the very noses of the fish. The bright-looking baits, 

 so says j. A. c. K., soon attract a goodly congregation of fish, 

 which inspect them, smell them, touch them with their sensitive 

 lips, deliberate upon them, and apparently come to the decision 

 that they are most excellent food for mullet, but dangerous. 

 Therefore they absolutely decline to partake of the feast in the 

 form set before them. Presently a big old fellow will whisk 

 smartly round and deliver a stroke with his tail which knocks 

 off the bait ; a friend below opens his wide lips and the bait 

 disappears. The other baits are knocked off in the same con- 

 temptuous way and eaten. The angler smiles, says nothing, 

 and rebaits his hooks. Next he throws in some ground bait, 

 and I confess I do not see why this proceeding should not have 

 taken place earlier. This gathering or anti-suspicion bait is 

 common macaroni boiled with skimmed milk and sugar and 

 chopped up into quarter-inch lengths. As it sinks, the mullet, 

 which as likely as not are feeding on the bottom, rise up, perhaps 

 showing themselves, and take it greedily. While they are busily 

 feeding flop go the baited hooks again into the very middle of 

 them. Almost immediately a big fish will, or may, take in one 

 of the baits ; but it is a long affair, this getting food into the 

 mouth of a mullet, and the time to strike is not yet. In a few 

 seconds the float sinks, a decided backward twitch is given to 

 the line, and the fish is hooked. 



All this time the rod has been leaning against the 

 parapet of the bridge, quietly and harmlessly. Many a shy fish 

 has been put down by seeing a long wooden wand waving 



