3O BOTTOM OR FLOAT-FISHING. 



ham fishing, and to fasten either with caps at both 

 ends, or a cap at the top, and a ring at the bottom. 

 The former method has an advantage in making 

 the float less liable to slip a common occurrence 

 which involves either a frequent " re-plumbing," or 

 the probability of fishing at the wrong depth. 

 Even with the double caps as fastened in the 

 ordinary way, the float, especially after repeated 

 striking, is apt not uncommonly to shift its posi- 

 tion by degrees ; and in order to make this im- 

 possible I pass the line round as well as through 

 the lower cap in other words, twice through 

 loosening the coil when the position of the float is 

 to be shifted, and drawing it tight when it is fixed 

 in its proper place. If this method is adopted, 

 caps of gutta-percha should be used instead of 

 quill caps, as the latter would wear and fray the line. 

 The above expedient will be found of consider- 

 able practical advantage in all fishing where ac- 

 curacy of plumbing is essential. 



SHOT. 



The shot should be sufficient to submerge about 

 three-fourths of the length of the float ; and their 



