"A MOST DEADLY PIECE OF TACKLE." 53 



first unwound by the angler. A free-running Nottingham reel 

 (see page 28) is, of course, necessary for this method, and a 

 plaited or twisted, undressed silk line. I do not like it as well as 

 the Thames style, because the bait cannot be cast with quite the 

 same accuracy as when the line is free to pass through the rings 

 without the least check. At the same time, the Nottingham 

 style is very useful when fishing from the bank, especially 

 when the ground is rough, and there are thistles and such-like 

 nuisances to catch the line. On windy days, too, when punt- 

 fishing, the Nottingham style is of service, for the wind 

 frequently blows loose line about, and causes it to catch in 

 something or other. 



To cast in the Nottingham style place one hand above the 

 reel, and the other below it. If the cast is made from the 

 right shoulder, the right hand will be above the reel ; if from 

 the left shoulder, the left hand. The reel is checked by the 

 pressure of a finger on its rim — either the first finger of 

 the hand below the reel, or the little finger of the hand above 

 it. I prefer the latter method, but the former is, I believe, 

 more common. At the moment of casting, remove the finger 

 from the reel ; but when the bait is nearly over the place where 

 you wish it to fall, put a gradual pressure on the rim of the 

 reel with the finger, until you stop it altogether. This method 

 is more difficult than it may seem from reading this description. 

 Beginners will do well to go into the centre of a ten-acre 

 meadow, and practise diligently for two hours before attempting 

 to cast at the waterside. 



The Paternoster is a most deadly piece of tackle, which 

 has become a great favourite with most pike-fishermen during 

 the last few years, though it is by no means a novelty, having 

 been used on the Thames, both for pike and perch, for well- 

 nigh a century. Its form will be easily understood from a glance 

 at Fig. 27. The perpendicular portion of it is made either of 

 000 patent gimp (see page 32), stained, or of salmon-gut (knotted 

 and stained according to the directions on pages 37-8). Below 

 the junction with the hook-length, which should be Gin. to 9in. 

 (according to the weediness of the stream) of ordinary gimp, 

 nicely stained, there is no occasion for any particular strength, 



