FISHING WITH THE PATERNOSTER. 49 



heavy pull. I usually hold the rod in my right hand, and 

 bring the line over my first finger, then under the second, 

 third, and fourth. I thus detect very light bites by the pull 

 of the line, which is instantly felt on the back of the first 

 finger — bites which sometimes do not perceptibly move the 

 top of the rod. On feeling a bite, strike sharply, and if the 

 fish is hooked, play him carefully, keeping a tight line. 

 With regard to the strength of the tackle, that should vary 

 according to the sorts and sizes of fish which are caught off 

 the pier. If conger abound, the bottom hook should be 

 mounted on fine gimp {see page 23); and single salmon gut 

 is certainly not strong enough for large pollack, for these 

 fish cannot be "played," but must be held, otherwise they go 

 down to the bottom, and get " hung up " among seaweed and 

 rocks. Again, if the angler is obliged to fish from the top of 

 a lofty pier, where he can bring neither gaff nor landing-net 

 to bear on his fish, he must use rather a large hook, and 

 tackle strong enough to lift the largest fish he is likely to 

 catch on to the top of the pier. At the same time, if too 

 coarse tackle is used, the sport will be bad; and it is often 

 worth while to use veiy fine tackle, risking the chance of 

 losing a big pollack or conger, and make a good basket, 

 rather than use coarse, strong tackle, fit to hold a halibut, 

 and catch next to nothing. The size of the lead at the end 

 of the paternoster has to vary according to the force of the 

 tide, the depth of water, and thickness of the main line, for 

 the water exerts more pressure on a thick line than on a fine 

 one, and therefore renders necessary a heavier weight to 

 keep it down. In rough weather, very heavy leads are 

 necessary. The paternoster can be fished, when advisable, 

 twenty or thirty yards from the pier. To cast it out, a 

 quantity of line must be uncoiled, the lead drawn up within 

 about 10ft. of the top of the rod, and swung out after the 

 method described in spinning for bass in Chapter Y. Imme- 

 diately the tackle touches the water, let out more line, so 

 that it be not dragged back, and the advantage of distance 

 lost. 

 Float tackle {see page 25) is sometimes used off piers in ground 



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