81 



derstand, he has got it down completely into his maw), 

 he exerts himself to eject it, thinking thereby to get clear 

 of the hooks. The latter, however, remain immoveable ; 

 while the bait, by being only, as it. were, slipped on to 

 the tackle, is expelled by the jack's exertions, so as in- 

 variably to appear out of his mouth, when he is landed. 



J have by this device frequently taken four and fire 

 jacks with the same (had lait ; which, if I had sewed 

 up its mouth, would, in all probability, have been com- 

 pletely disfigured by the action of the first jack's throat, 

 and by the precious lot of sharp teeth with which that part 

 is lined. 



Dead laits are employed also for trimmers, and night" 

 lines. The former are double hooks, similar to those 

 used as gorging-hooh ; but being invariably made on the 

 same wire, their centre forms a loop, through which 

 small brass wire is passed repeatedly, say three times, 

 and then wolded round with the same. This being done 

 to the extent of six or seven inches, makes a strong re- 

 sistance to the pull of any fish, and effectually precludes 

 all danger of biting off the hook. 



These are called armed hooks, or trimmers, and are 

 chiefly, when baited with a small fish, as already shewn, 

 laid in the water close under steep banks, among weeds, 

 &c. where jacks, perch, and trouts frequent. Those 

 fishes frequently take the baits during the day j as do eels 

 sometimes, though very rarely. This occasions the " 

 very common practice (among poachers especially, who 

 often allure fishes by means of ground- lait) of laying 

 night-lines, which are sometimes set with the doulle 

 trimmer, and sometimes with a single eel- hook. In, 



this 



