116 AN ANGLER'S YEAR 



for what they are worth. The writer has found the 

 following tackle the most successful for congering, 

 namely, a 4ft. plaited gut bottom, terminating in a 

 short boom of diamond pattern ; on the lower 

 swivel loop a Sin. link of old snooding to carry the lead ; 

 to the buckle fasten a composite 3ft. trace, the inner 

 two-thirds of plaited treble gut, and the outer third of 

 braided phosphor-bronze wire fastened on to the new 

 long-shanked Norwegian hook with a figure-of-eight 

 bend. Only one hook should be used, as two congers at 

 one time would baffle any man ; and a loose hook when 

 handling conger in a boat is worse than a nuisance, and 

 is indeed a positive danger. The rod should be strong 

 and pliable, preferable with a whalebone top, and should 

 be rigged with a winch of not less than a 5^-in. or 6in. 

 diameter with a large drum. If the wire winch line is 

 used, of course the rod top must be furnished with large 

 pulley wheel, which should be well countersunk. When 

 fishing, the whole apparatus should be lowered, with the 

 lead just off the bottom if the tide is slack, and just 

 touching if there is any run of water. Wait for a 

 decided draw (not bite) and then strike, making a point 

 of at once winding in a fathom to try and get the fish off 

 the bottom. Then, and not till then, must you play 

 your fish, as if he once gets slack line on the bottom he 

 gets amongst the rocks, and nothing will get him out. 

 When the fish is done, bring him alongside and get 

 forward, so that the boatman may have a fair chance to 

 gaff him. Should he be a poor hand at the game, gaff 

 the fish yourself, keeping your rod uptide and ready to 

 let him run should the gaff miss him. When in the 

 boat a sharp knife in his skull and a blow over the vent 

 will soon quieten him, and a couple of sacks are useful to 

 prevent the fish flapping about in the darkness amongst 

 one's legs in the bottom of the boat, when " scotched 

 but not kilt." The pike scissors and the disgorger 

 figured in an earlier chapter (Fig. 26) are useful 

 aids to getting the hook out if the fish is hooked 

 in the mouth, otherwise slip the hook line or cut it 

 adrift. The best bait for congers is according to season : 



