440 MODERN SEA FISHING 



A sea-fishing friend of mine had a curious experience with 

 a big conger. He had set a small long line or trot for soles in a 

 Manx bay. The snoods were of cotton, and fine. A codling 

 of a pound took one of the baits, and a conger six feet long the 

 codling. For reasons which it is not easy to explain the big 

 fish easily allowed himself to be coaxed by means of a gaff 

 into the small dinghy, which had three men in her, a basket or 

 two, and a lot of lines. Then, and not until then, he awoke to 

 his position and caused confusion unbounded. Indeed, every- 

 one concerned had a lively time. 



For night fishing a lantern is very necessary, both as an 

 indication of our whereabouts to other vessels, and to enable 

 the tackle to be handled with some degree of comfort. Those 

 who handline should be most particular not to allow coils of line 

 to get on the bottom of the boat, otherwise an eel will surely find 

 them out, and save the lives of many of his kindred by placing 

 that line out of the running for one night at least. Those who 

 are used to eels dislodge the hook easily enough ; but the be- 

 ginner should certainly study to kill his prey before attempting 

 the disgorgement, and will be well advised to furnish himself 

 with a fish gag of some kind or other. 



At night and where fishing can only be carried on for a couple 

 of hours during the ease of the tide, and time is extremely im- 

 portant, it is a capital plan to make up a number of snoods, and 

 have on the main length of line a hook swivel, to which they 

 can be quickly attached ; then, immediately an eel is caught, 

 drop him into the basket, unhooking the snood and putting on 

 another one. This in many instances will save a great deal 

 of time. In lieu of the hook swivel, the snood can be made 

 fast to the line by the useful knot which I have explained in 

 Chapter VIII. p. 290. By merely pulling the end the knot 

 instantly comes undone, and the snood is released from the line. 



If a great many congers are caught, there is no cause to 



