76 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



consequently it is from observation on the part of practical 

 men that the close season for each district is defined ; and 

 from time to time those periods alter, and it is the duty of 

 the inspectors or overseers of these districts to study the 

 habits of the fish, and note the changes taking place, and have 

 the periods altered accordingly. Salmon and trout spawn in 

 the autumn, and the average close season for them is from 

 October till March ; in some districts from September till 

 March. In many localities the salmon will begin to run up 

 the rivers as early as January, quite fresh, and in good 

 condition ; and still these fish may not be angled for until 

 February or March, and the season will be open till 

 September, when really they are foul in August. As a 

 rule, trout are not in good condition till the hawthorn 

 begins to show green leaf, as up till then very few if any 

 flies hatch, and, consequently, the fish are short of food. 

 The weekly close season is from noon on Saturday till six 

 o'clock a.m. on the following Monday, with a few excep- 

 tions this season is only for nets. (See " Laws, Fishery.") 



Coat. (See " Dress.") 



Corks are used as floats to denote when the fish is at the 

 bait under the surface of the water. The slabs of cork 

 -are first cut into squares, and then turned on a lathe into 

 the various shapes and sizes that are in use from the half- 

 inch round float to the four-inch pike float. The shapes 

 are egg, thin barrel, pear, sneck head, pilot, live bait or 

 Jack float, trimmer, &c. After the cork is turned, it is 

 ground on stone ; next, the cavities are filled up with putty, 

 the quill is inserted, and the plug is bound in its place ; the 

 rings are whipped on, and the cork float is then painted 

 and varnished. All the varieties mentioned can be pro- 

 cured from the tackle makers. 



