Trimmering. 327 



where it may pouch at pleasure, while connection 

 with the angler is maintained by the string. In- 

 stead of being attached to a fixed object on shore, 

 the line may be made fast to a bladder, a bottle, 

 or a trimmer proper a cylindrical float, red on 

 one side, and white on the other which is then 

 turned adrift to do all the fishing. This is a stage 

 worse than the once popular method of fly-fishing 

 with the "otter," in which, though the line was 

 attached to the float, the angler kept possession 

 of the rod, and required to exercise some skill in 

 guiding the " otter " to windward, while his flies 

 danced gaily over the water between him and it. 

 But the trimmer-rigger has simply nothing to do, 

 and generally he does it very well, and with won- 

 derful results. Sometimes, however, he imparts 

 variety to the proceedings of the trimmer, though 

 he renders the game even less creditable to him- 

 self, when he discards the dull passive float, em- 

 ploys a living agent in the shape of a goose or a 

 duck, and tying the line to its leg, chases it over 

 the water. This is certainly sufficiently exciting 

 for the goose or the duck, whatever it may be for 

 the rigger, but it is an abuse of words, to call it 

 sport for either. Yet the gentle Prioress of St 

 Alban's found it in her heart to style it so, and 

 to say that the sport would lie in seeing " whether 

 the goose or the pike should have the better;" 



