18 FLOATS AND HOOKS. 



drop off a joint or two, until, having him almost supine, 

 half the rod is thus dropped, and the fish is led in by a 

 small light rod of some three or four joints, and of very 

 manageable dimensions. 



Of floats for stream-fishing, I have before said they 

 should be suited to the water. I may now say that there 

 are several sorts, but I never use but two. For heavy 

 streams cork floats of various weights, and tapering gradu- 

 ally both ways to the ends (the longest taper below), and 

 for light streams a porcupine quill. These two can be 

 had of any size, to take fifty shot or five. Floats are also 

 made of quills, tapered and fastened up in lengths, and 

 heavily varnished, and also of reeds of various lengths, 

 &c. ; but although they are very pretty to look at, they 

 do not stand enough wear and tear for my money. (For 

 floats various, see Plate II. p. 70) 



Hooks are of many sorts and sizes, and should be suited 

 to the fish to be angled for. The best size for ordinary 

 roach, dace, and barbel-fishing, whether from the bank or 

 punt, is that which will carry one or two gentles well, and 

 that is from No. 8 to 11. There are a great variety of 

 hooks the Limerick, the Kirby, the sneck bend, and the 

 round bend. The first is sometimes used for bottom- 

 fishing, but more often for fly-fishing. The barb is so 

 rank, however, that it often takes some time to unhook 

 the fish. Of the other patterns it is difficult to decide 

 which is the best. Tastes vary so much that they all 

 have their supporters. Some like the sneck bend, and 

 some the round bend, and some like the old Kirby some 

 modifications of one or the other. I generally use a hook 

 of not quite a round bend, but with the point deflected 

 to the side a little (not too much), and bent inwards the 

 least trifle in the world ; and, added to this, I do not hold 

 with the shank being too short. It is a great fault. 



Having now given an account of general bottom-fish- 



