168 THE PERCH. 



gut trace properly shotted to the float's buoy- 

 ancy ; also a No. 7 hook on gut is a size which 

 will do equally well for minnow or worm fishing. 



For ordinary fishing a float this pattern (A on 

 opposite page) will be found the correct thing ; but 

 when fishing some distance away down a stream 

 or a weir by the Nottingham method, a traveller 

 float (B on opposite page) will be found more 

 suitable for the purpose. 



An excellent float for perch and other fishing 

 has recently been invented by Mr. J. Jeffery, of 

 Epsom, which exactly provides a requirement long 

 needed by anglers, who, like myself, have at times 

 been so situated as not to be able to cast a float 

 far enough to reach the desired spot where fish 

 were likely to be congregated, unless the gut trace 

 or line was heavily shotted. These new floats 

 which are made in two or three sizes have a coil 

 of lead, b l>', wound round them at the bottom end, 

 the weight of which is so accurately adjusted that 

 it submerges them to the proper line of flotation, 

 a a. (See illustration C on opposite page.) On 

 making a cast the float travels as a weighted arrow 

 does from a bow, striking the water with a kind of 

 'shoot," and then "cocking" immediately. Two 

 or three small shots are sufficient for the gut-hook 

 link to sink the bait. For " roving " alongside 

 banks and under trees these floats answer admir- 

 ably. I am informed Messrs. Allcock and Co. 

 have secured the patent. 



If the bait used is a minnow it should be care- 

 fully hooked through the side of its top lip ; if a 

 worm it must be tenderly threaded up the hook 

 shank, with half an inch or so of its tail hanging 

 over and beyond the barb. 



