TROLLING. 15 



Trolling is derived from the French word 

 trailer, to stroll or rove about, which is the 

 case frequently when angling with the gorg 

 or snap, to the distance of eight or ten miles 

 up a river and back again, trolling forwards 

 and backwards, as you then carry the baits in 

 your pocket ; but in live bait angling or trol- 

 ling, you are encumbered with a fish kettle. 



The lines for trolling are made of silk, and 

 silk twisted with hair or gut : the platted silk 

 is the best line, which should be kept on the 

 winch in length from thirty to forty yards. 



The rod used in trolling must be very strong, 

 with a stiff whalebone or hickery top. I find 

 a rod made in the following manner very port- 

 able : let the butt be something more than a 

 yard long, and of sufficient thickness to admit 

 two stout joints ; the top, made of hickery, 

 about eighteen inches in length, which I com- 

 monly carry in my inside coat pocket, the 

 other joints forming a good walking cane 5 and 



