84 ANGLING IN SALT WATEE. 



After a little while, tlie mullet would again come to tlie 

 surface, take tlie bait, and be caught. The principal object 

 of having a hair line was because no rod was used, hair 

 possessing much elasticity, and therefore greatly favouring 

 the fisherman who plays a fish with his hand. I see no 

 reason why a rod should not be used with this tackle; it 

 would be a decided advantage in striking and playing the 

 fish. Yery few corks are necessary for this kind of fishing, 

 if the line is fine, and well greased. A well greased line will 

 float for a long time on the surface of the water; quite as 

 well, indeed, as if corks were strung along it. The best 

 grease for the purpose is the kidney fat of a red deer. It 

 is kept at several fishing-tackle shops in London for the dry- 

 fly fishermen of Hampshire. Mutton kidney fat, melted 

 with a little pure paraffin, answers very nearly as well; in 

 fact, nearly any grease will do. 



A somewhat similar tackle to that just described is used 

 by local anglers at Nice. The main line is of horsehair, 

 tapered to three hairs at the fine end; the hook, which is 

 attached to gut, is small, and the bait, a piece of bread or a 

 ragworm. Along the line, at intervals of 1ft., are a series 

 of corks about the size of peas ; the lowest, which is as big as 

 a hazel nut, is about two-and-a-half feet above the bait. A 

 very long rod is used. The angler usually wades in, rod in 

 one hand, hook in the other, and, with a gentle sweep of the 

 arm, casts the bait out beyond the surf. 



Once, on Dover pier, I saw a man angling for grey mullet 

 in a highly artistic manner, which proved successful. His 

 rod was long and light, and his line of twisted silk a trifle 

 thicker than that used on the Trent for chub, and not quite 

 three times as thick as ordinary sewing thread. At the end 

 of the line was a three-yard length of gut, haK as thick as 

 salmon gut. He used three small hooks (about No. 10), one 

 at the end of the gut, the others as droppers. There were three 

 tiny cork floats on the line, and no sinkers. The sketch (Fig. 53) 

 shows their position and appearance. The end hook he 

 baited with the green weed found on piles in harbours, the 

 others with paste made from stale bread. The day was quite 



