LEADS. 61 



perch-fishing, the middle sizes from li inch to 2\ 

 inches for pike-fishing, and the largest, from 3 

 inches to 4 inches which are used in sea-fishing : 

 these detachable non-slipping leads can be placed 

 any distance from the bait by coiling the trace in 

 the grooves and wires ; and if necessary instantly 

 shifted to another position : or a heavier or lighter 

 lead put on by untwisting the trace ; if to be used 

 when spinning for pike, or other fish, bend or curve 

 the lead bctvyeen fingers and thumb, and this 

 will prevent the annoyance of kinks or twists 

 forming in the spinning line. These leads arc 

 manufactured by Bartleet and Sons, of Rcdditch, 

 and can be got at any of the London or country 

 fishing-tackle shops. In the early part of this 

 century, trolling with a dead-gorge-bait was the 

 mode usually adopted for catching pike, and the 

 art of spinning a natural bait was almost un- 

 known, or at any rate had not been elevated to 

 a science ; swivels were used then which were 

 badly constructed, and leads were wrong in shape, 

 i.e. pipe-leads, or a number of shots weighted 

 the trace, and rolled in the water, or rotated, 

 allowing kinks to run up the line, tangling and 

 crinkling it to such an extent that much of it had 

 to be taken off the reel and straightened, thus 

 incurring loss of time and discomfort to the 

 angler. Now, owing to improvements in the shape 

 of leads and perfect lines, &c., all these incon- 

 veniences have ceased to exist ; but still as tangles 

 and kinks do sometimes occur, the best way to 

 take them out of the line is to draw twenty or 

 thirty yards through the ring of the top-joint, and 

 trail it two or three times backwards and forwards 

 across a grass field, until all the twists are got rid 



