259 



When a fish bites but gently, you must be all atten* 

 tion, and in readiness to strike him at the second pull j 

 whether it be slight or strong. To do this, you should 

 not lift your arm, but merely with a twitch, bring your 

 hand up ; the wrist serving as a pivot for its motion : if, 

 however, the boat is descending at the moment when 

 you have occasion to strike, you must raise your lower 

 arm with your hand ; making the elbow the pivot, and 

 keeping your upper arm close by your side. 



A very few instances will suffice to give expert ness 

 to him who is at all conversant in the more common 

 branches of angling, and will accustom the hand to the 

 weight on the line j which, to the novice, is sometimes 

 very perplexing and deceitful. 



When thus employed, you will frequently have occa- 

 sion for a good stout knife ; nor will a disgorger be super- 

 fluous; for many of the sea fishes, taken on our coasts, 

 have very large mouths, and make nothing of ppuching 

 such a bait as would astonish a trout ! 



Moderate sized baits are however to be generally pre* 

 ferred j but you must take care to conceal your hook 

 wetl ; though sea fishes are not so very particular in that 

 respect as the fishes in fresh water. Let not this tend to 

 indifference on that head -, for, as I have always said, he 

 who has the best tackle, under equal skill, &c. will always 

 kill most fishes. 



Such persons as make coasting voyages, such as from 

 Leith to London, and are fond of fishing, may frequently 

 find opportunities for casting a line ; especially in the 

 summer time, when vessels are obliged to anchor, during 

 en opposing tide, for want of wind to bear against it. 



Often 



