70 TROLLING IN STAFFORDSHIRE. 



be put one within the other as is usually done. 

 This may be obviated by having a case made of 

 leather with three small straps. This is very 

 portable, and there is not the difficulty in extracting 

 the joints which often occurs with the old-fashioned 

 rods. Mr. Barth makes these cases from a pattern 

 which I gave him. 



The best hooks for trolling are those made at 

 Limerick. They are well tempered, have an ad- 

 mirable curve, and the objection which has been 

 made to them of their being heavy and clumsy, is 

 an advantage in trolling for pike, although, it may 

 not be in fly-fishing. O'Shaughnessy's are the 

 best, and I never knew one of his hooks break 

 in the mouth of a pike, which the London hooks 

 are apt to do. This indeed should be guarded 

 against in trolling, for if one hook of a set breaks, 

 the set is useless until it has been repaired. 



In trolling from a boat or punt, or amongst 

 sedges, brambles, &c. a reel is necessary, and I 

 would recommend a wooden one about four and 

 a half inches across, having the rim grooved for 

 the reception of the line. These reels turn round 

 with great rapidity when the cast is made, letting 

 out a sufficient length of line, and are wound up 

 again by turning them with the fore-finger. They 

 are not generally known, but deserve to be so. 

 I have left a pattern of them with Mr. Barth who 

 will get them made for any of my brother anglers 



