136 ON MINNOW AND PARR-TAIL FISHING. 



a circumstance greatly favouring the spinning, while, 

 at the same time, in conjunction with the natural 

 toughness of the advanced end, it prevents that other 

 portion of the parr-tail from^ becoming worn and 

 fretted. 



I have been thus particular in my description of this 

 and the first-mentioned tackles, because experience has 

 taught me to consider them as unsurpassed, in their 

 separate adaptations, by any other combination of 

 hooks. It is very true, however, as I have already 

 hinted, that many able and accomplished anglers give 

 the preference to more compound and perplexing 

 devices, some using five, some seven, and others as 

 many as eleven hooks, variously sized and arranged. 

 Of these tackles, however, I shall say little. Without 

 holding them in absolute disregard, I cannot help 

 thinking they are constructed upon an unsound prin- 

 ciple, as far, at least, as relates to the spinning of the 

 minnow or parr-tail (a point, the most essential, con- 

 nected with this sort of fishing), and although seemingly, 

 from their armed and horrescent appearance, better 

 adapted to take good hold of a trout than the simple 

 forms of tackle above recommended, yet in reality they 

 are not a whit more so. 



For my own part, I would limit their use entirely to 

 loch-fishing, and then, as pure trolling tackle, larger in 

 make and size of wire" than suits either the minnow or 

 parr-tail, and employed by the angler from a boat, 

 under oars. In such a case, the spinning is sufficiently 

 brought out by the action of the leads and swivels. A 

 large bait, moreover, like that needed for the occasion 

 in question, is better supported and held in shape by 

 several hooks, entered at various parts of the body. 



While on the subject of minnow and parr-tail tackle, 



