280 THE POLLACK. 



which is often of very limited extent ; so much so indeed, that I 

 have not unfrequently hauled as many as two dozen large pollacks 

 on board in traversing a space of half a dozen yards, beyond which, 

 I could not obtain a single bite. 



When a pollack bites, he generally hooks himself by the check 

 he receives when running off with the bait. On finding himself 

 held captive he generally gives a few strong struggles, which 

 finding unavailing he usually darts forward, thereby causing a slack 

 line, which often induces beginners to imagine he has escaped, till 

 a smart tug informs them again of his presence : when if he be a 

 strong fish it will be better to give out a little line ; pulling in as 

 rapidly as you can when he again slackens, as he soon will, by 

 which means you will soon subdue him, and having hauled him to 

 the surface strike him with a gaff hook on the lower side just be- 

 hind the ventral fin, and throw him aboard ; or if only a small one 

 lift him in by the snead. 



The baits to be employed in this kind of fishing are the sand 

 launce, small common eels, sprats, smelts, or pieces cut from the 

 tail or side of a mackerel or gar fish : as also rag worms, and pri- 

 main. When a piece of fish is used, the hook should be merely 

 run through one extremity, without taking any pains to conceal it 

 from view. When rag worms are used, they should be put on two 

 at a time, and baited in the manner above directed for baiting a 

 couple of worms for trout. When sand launce are used, it is 

 generally better to put on two at a time ; running the hook first 

 into the mouth and bringing it out again a little below the ven- 

 tral fin, and then drawing the point of the hook a little out, run it 

 in again through the laterel line a little lower down, bringing it 

 out again in the opposite side. The second bait should be fixed 

 by simply running the hook through the head, entering and bring- 

 ing it out at the eyes; but should be so contrived that the bodies 

 and bellies of the two fish may be placed on reverse sides, as in 

 that way they will play better, and present a more attractive ap - 

 pearance. The small common eels may also be baited in a similar 

 manner, though the better plan seems to be to employ only one of 

 the latter baits put on in the same way as the first sand launce as 

 above directed. Common eels may be preserved in salt, in which 

 they will keep a considerable time, and from their toughness, the 

 same bait will catch a great number of fish before it will be worn 

 out in the service. 



