TACKLE FOR SPINNING AND TROLLING. 



437 



FIG. 56. IMPROVED LEAD. 



is entered at d, d, and drawn to the top of the tube, and the lead is 



adjusted, nor will it slip or wear out the line, be it gimp or gut. This 



weight is made and sold by Mr. Gregory, Vyse-street, Birmingham. I, 



and several capable 



anglers, have tried 



it continually ; it 



gives no trouble, 



and may be changed 



in an instant to 



any position on the 



trace. It never 



causes kinking in 



fact, a trace made 



as I direct would 



never kink, even if 



an ordinary round 



lead were used instead of a pendant one. Finally, it does not readily 



catch in the weeds. 



Now, I readily admit this is not quite perfect, but its principle is 

 sound. The brass tubing may be made much smaller and neater. I 

 invite all who may see this to make a trial of the pattern. 



I am endeavouring to get this lead made in small sizes for bottom 

 fishing. Shot is highly objectionable under certain circumstances, and I 

 am convinced that small lead sinkers of this make would be a boon to 

 the barbel and bream angler et hoc genus. Oftentimes when a fish breaks 

 your line the accident is traceable to a shot which has been forcibly 

 unduly so closed on' the delicate "drawn" gut. Besides, one line 

 would serve for heavy or light floats, as occasion required, without it 

 being necesssary to change the bottom at each change of scene and place. 



The rod for spinning may be either of Nottingham make or an East 

 India cane the latter for preference. In each case its weight and length 

 should be apportioned to the sort of fishing for which it is required. The 

 reel or winch may be also according to fancy. Personally I like the 

 Nottingham style. 



Thus endeth spinning. 



I have gone to some length in regard to the history of trolling in the 

 Pike chapter, and I must give it therefore the consideration it here 

 deserves. 



Trolling hooks, until Pennell reformed their make, were always armed 

 with a long shank of wire, and the lead was brought down the body of the 

 hook so near its bend that when a bait was fixed its throat was as 

 swollen as if it were in an apoplectic fit. Many a fish, from the fact of its 



