SHARP HOOKS AND STRONG LINES. 121 



The hooks should be very strong, and the points should be 

 filed very sharp : this last piece of advice applies to all hooks 

 for all kinds of fishing, and its importance is not generally 

 appreciated by amateur fishermen. 



Trolling-lines of cotton are better than linen lines. They 

 should be hawser-laid, so as not to kink, and be from three 

 eighths to a quarter of an inch in diameter. Although it is 

 well to have them fifty yards in length, yet when the fish are 

 feeding in earnest fifty feet is line enough to let off. Always 

 fasten the end of your line to the boat, and in case you put 

 outriggers, a check line should be attached to each to draw 

 them to the boat or yacht, so as to take hold of them without 

 disturbing the rigger. Lines to outriggers should be so short 

 as to skitter on the surface of the water. 



Gloves of heavy woolen yarn should be worn ; the line 

 will wear through leather much quicker than through wool, 

 and woolen gloves do not slip, and they are more comforta- 

 ble to the hands. It is common to double the gloves over 

 the forefinger and on the under side of the little fingers. 

 Buckskin or dogskin, the two best kinds of leather to use 

 when wet, are only a momentary protection, good for noth- 

 ing as t rolling-gloves or thumb-stalls. 



THE FLYING FISH. 



