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out a lesser length of line. On the contrary, 

 when the water is deep, the point of the rod 

 should be held near the water, and additional 

 shot should be added to the trace, to make 

 the bait sink the quicker. In this way of troll- 

 ing, the large rings recommended to be fixed 

 on the rod are of essential use. In case of any 

 knot in the line, or any bit of grass or small 

 stick adhering to it, an obstruction seldom 

 takes place, as the rings are sufficiently large 

 to let them through, when the line is cast. 

 This hint is well worth the attention of trollers. 

 The best hooks for trolling are those made by 

 O'Shaughnessy of Limerick. When a reel is 

 necessary, as it is when fishing in foul places, 

 I would recommend a wooden one, about four 

 and a half inches across, having the rim 

 grooved for the reception of the line. These 

 reels turn round with great rapidity when the 

 cast is made, letting out a sufficient length of 

 line, and are wound up again by turning them 

 with the fore-finger. They are much to be 

 preferred to the common brass reel. 



"When a pike has come at a bait, a mo- 

 ment's pause should take place, and he should 

 be then gently struck to the right or left as his 

 supposed position may be. If the troller 

 strikes when the mouth of the fish is directly 

 towards him, he is apt to pull the bait out of his 

 L5 



