RIVER FISH AND FISHING. 405 



on a thumb-reel, and armed with a three-hooked blunt drag 

 weighted with lead, so that when a hook is caught in 

 weeds or other impediment, the drag may be thrown on to 

 the same spot, and the weed dragged away with the hook, 

 or at all events the greater portion of the line may be 

 saved. 



The clearing-ring is intended for the same purpose, 

 and is a jointed ring of heavy metal which opens and closes 

 again with a catch. It is attached to a long line like the 

 last, and is passed upon the end of the rod open, and when 

 closed is slipped down the reel-line as low as possible, and 

 then drawn to land, bringing sometimes the hook and 

 obstacle with it, but generally breaking the casting-line 

 near the hook or about the shot. This does not act so 

 well as the drag-hook when a float is used. 



The bait-box is merely a flat box perforated with small 

 holes in the lid, for containing worms, or gentles, or dead 

 minnows, in bran. 



The disgorger is an instrument for removing the hook 

 from the throat of those fish which swallow their bait, and 

 is made of various forms. One end should be forked, and 

 the other perforated with a hole, and ending with a sharp- 

 cutting, round surface, like a spatula. 



