49 



thing more than a strong hoop, having an eye on one 

 side to fasten a cord, by which the whole stress is borne. 

 The side opposite te the eye should be considerably the 

 heaviest, to make it keep as low down as the im- 

 pediment may admit. The cord ought to be very hard, 

 well-made windew-line, of the smallest size ; but may 

 be of whip-cord, if your apparatus be required to lay com- 

 pact. About five or six yards will prove a sufficient length. 



When your hook is entangled, slip the ring over the 

 butt of your rod, and let it go down your line, so as, if 

 possible, to hitch upon whatever the hook is fast to ; 

 then draw tight the cord, and if you cannot lift the in- 

 cumbrance out, pull till you can tear away the part that 

 detained your hook. As before observed, when this is im- 

 practicable, your attention must be devoted to saving ail 

 you can of your line, compounding for die loss of you* 

 hook. 



In managing this, however, some little skill is need- 

 ful. Your line should, if possible, be kept at least at right 

 angles with the direction of the cord, so as to give the 

 advantage of keeping the clearing-ring down close to the 

 impediment ; and if the line can be. so directed as to give 

 au obtuse angle (see Fig. ~, Plate II.), it will afford a 

 greater certainty of success. 



Observing that very often my hook got into such a 

 situation as rendered a clearing-ring, such as is generally 

 made, of no use ; or, at least, that I was, nine times in 

 ten, compelled to resign my hook, where it could have 

 been saved by a proper instrument, particularly in cases 

 where fishes had run among weeds, &c. and torn the 

 hook through their lips, I had several rings made, and 

 found that one, according to Fig. 5, Plate II. was, for 

 o such 



