85 



this manner immense numbers of the finest fishes are 

 caught. 



The lines used on such occasions must be proportioned 

 in length to the depth, and to other circumstances. 

 They should be of the best whip-cord j and a loop should 

 be at the end of each, for the purpose of receiving a 

 small, short, forked stick (see Fig. 7, Plate III.), which 

 having one end forced into the bank, perpendicularly, 

 for almost its whole length, so that the shorter leg which 

 forms the fork, may touch, or perhaps enter, the ground 

 also, serves to secure the line effectually, and is far more 

 expeditiously laid and removed, than if made fast to 

 boughs, stumps, &c. 



Add to this, that such boughs and stumps are not every 

 where to be had ; and, if they are, do not conceal the 

 lines so effectually as those which are thus pegged to the 

 ground. 



When you have not any pegs, and that boughs are not 

 within reach, wherewith to fasten your lines ; or, that 

 the soil is sandy, tie them to tufts of grass, which will 

 hold them against any pull. You may also tie the ends 

 to stones, which being buried a few inches in the sand, 

 however loose it may be, cannot be forced out by the 

 largest fish in our waters. 



In this manner tents are pitched on the deserts : the 

 pins being fastened to the ends of the ropes, and then 

 buried at right angles to them, about a foot deep in the 

 sand, a hurricane may blow the tents to pieces, but can- 

 not draw up the pins ! 



Night-lines may be baited with worms (or with 

 chickens' gut, especially if intended Ibr eels}: lol-u'orms 

 are the best.* Observe always to put the hock in at the 



bead 3 



