158 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



from the bank, to make himself happy with as neat and effective a piece 

 of tackle as it is in the power of human mechanism to bestow. In fact, 

 the precision with which one can make a cast, and the beauty which can 

 be imparted to the spin and career of the bait (from a fishy point of 

 view), or to the erratic movement of the gorge bait, are invariably 

 superior to those of the old style that is of course when you know how. 



A moment's reflection will convince the reader of the truth of these 

 assertions. If one be fishing from the shore decidedly the beat " coign of 

 vantage " if practicable when jack fishing this shore is ever uneven and 

 Btrewn with varied debris ; whilst probably twigs and short undergrowth 

 add to the perplexity of the angler, it being imperative that he coil his line 

 upon it before casting. If a boat be used, and the till of the punt afford 

 a plain and clear surface for the coiling referred to, a puff of wind will 

 destroy the advantage, and the tread of a heavy foot will sever the line or 

 so weaken it as to practically sever it, or somebody's leg will be awkwardly 

 in the way. From there being no unwinding and coiling in the Nottingham 

 style, all this annoyance when it is used is nil. The bait is delivered 

 cleanly, and is wound up as it is withdrawn ; and this is how it is done : 



The bait should be (according to the leads thereto attached, less or 

 more some few inches) about six feet from the top of the rod, supposing 

 that the rod of course be about twelve feet. The rod is then thus taken : 

 the right hand embraces it below the reel, allowing the forefinger to act as 

 brake upon the periphery when it revolves. The other hand lightly clasps 

 the rod some eighteen inches higher up. To make the cast of course first 

 "sight " the spot whereto it is desired to send the bait. Turn almost 

 right or left about, and then with a swiftly increasing impulse of the rod, 

 bring it and yourself round pointing to and facing the destination of the 

 bait. If this be skilfully done the bait will assuredly fly with a graceful 

 flight whither it is required, and as it nears the place the forefinger of 

 the right hand should gradually apply the restraining power ; not sud- 

 denly, or back will come the bait into the thrower's face perhaps, but 

 with precision and coolness, not hurrying or fussing about it. Having 

 thus delivered the bait, the butt of the rod which, according to con- 

 venience, did or did not rest upon the angler's hip, must now do so. 

 The grasp of the left hand is tightened, and the right winds in; of 

 course as in the old fashioned method, the pace of the bait can and 

 should be varied as much as possible. 



Spinning is commonly included under the head of trolling, but not pro- 

 perly so, for the "trowling" of Nobbes was entirely with the gorge 

 hook. I find great difficulty in explaining in writing the manipulations 

 of an almost entirely mechanical art. But by once or twice watching the 

 operations of a good spinner, more niceties could be understood than by 



