THE ART OF SPINNING. 195 



of the best leads for the purpose is that devised by 

 Mr. Philip Geen, a boat-shaped lead with a 

 revolving ring at each end. But there are other 

 leads with an ordinary swivel at each end which 

 do well enough. The novice will do wisely to get 

 half-a-dozen leads of this nature, and also half-a- 

 dozen leads without swivels for his other traces. It 

 is useful to have two sizes, $oz. and ^oz. There are 

 many kinds, the easiest to put on and off being 

 those that have a wire spiral at each end, through 

 which the trace passes. For very light spinning, 

 if lead is required at all, one of the novice's split 

 bullets does as well as anything. 



Flights of hooks are very various, but, on the 

 whole, I have come to the conclusion that what is 

 known as the Thames flight is as satisfactory as 

 anything for large baits. It consists of three 

 triangles tied on the gut in a row, with a single or 

 " lip hook " above them. The lowest triangle is 

 inserted near the tail of the bait, and the others, 

 each with a slight strain on the gut at the moment 

 of insertion, along its side, the single hook passing 

 through its lips. The result ought to be a graceful 

 curve in the body of the bait, which makes it turn 

 round and round as it is drawn through the water 

 " spin," in fact. One can only attain the knack 



of putting on a bait by practice, and it is well to 



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