ANGLING PEOM THE SHOEE. 



55 



at tiie end of the stick, swings the lead once or twice, and then 

 casts it out as far as he can. The lead used weighs about l^lb. 

 The angler, with light tackle and dressed line, can throw out 

 his sea leger or paternoster just as far as the Deal fisher- 

 men can their heavy leads. Many Thames fishermen, indeed, 

 can cast much farther. There is occasionally one objection 

 to the light leger lead when used from the shore: the wash 

 of the waves brings it in shore; or, if the lead is not moved, 

 the line beyond the lead is washed back, and entangles with 

 the line above the lead. When this is the case, the pater- 

 noster should be used, but the ordinary pear-shaped lead 

 should be exchanged for a flat one. If two holes are 

 drilled in this flat lead, and stout 

 pieces of wire fixed in them, so that 

 the ends project iin., a very light 

 lead will hold the bottom (Fig. 43). 

 I need hardly say that no leaded 

 tackle (unless used with a float) 

 should be thrown out over a rocky 

 bottom, for hooks, lead, and line, 

 are all sure to catch, and loss of 

 tackle is a certainty. The angler 

 must be some distance above rocks 

 to be able to fish them, except, as 

 I have said, with float tackle. As 

 a rule, flat fish alone will be taken 

 on a line thrown off a sandy shore ; 

 but if the place fished is at the 



mouth of a river, bass {see Chapter Y.) will often be caught 

 on the paternoster or leger. 



Float tackle is sometimes used from rocks with great success, 

 the fish taken being principally pollack and bass. The subject 

 is treated fully later on. The angler who is used to live-bait 

 fishing for jack will have no difficulty in casting his float 

 tackle, if not too light, 40yds. out to sea, or more. Easy 

 casting depends on three things: heavy tackle, a light line, 

 and a rod fitted with proper rings {see page 6). Light tackle 

 cannot be thrown with a heavy line. The best plan is to 



Fig. 43. 



Improved Paternoster Lead 



FOR Throwing out on 



Sandy Bottoms. 



