1 68 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



pointed to enable it to hold its slippery prey. It attains a 

 large size, often measuring six feet from the nose to tip of 

 the tail, and weighing up to sixty pounds. It frequents 

 rivers and lakes, inhabiting some hole in the bank. It 

 swims rapidly, and dives with wonderful agility. Its food 

 chiefly consists of fish. It destroys more than it eats, and 

 generally feeds on the daintiest part, such as the shoulder. 

 It is a very wary, suspicious animal, and is seldom seen in 

 daylight. It can be caught by laying a strong rabbit trap 

 on its "spraint" or droppings which may be found on its 

 path. The trap must be securely fixed to pins well driven 

 into the ground, as the otter is so strong that he will make 

 off with it if not very secure. He is generally caught by 

 the toe or the foot. Otters are also hunted by hounds bred 

 for the purpose. This sport is chiefly confined to Wales, 

 Scotland, and one or two districts in England. 



Otter, Artificial, is an implement used in the 

 taking of fish, principally trout and salmon. It is not 

 recognised by true sportsmen, and is prohibited by law. It 

 consists of a piece of wood, about eight or nine inches deep, 

 three-quarters of an inch thick, twelve to twenty inches 

 long, rounded at both ends, brought to a thin edge one way 

 and the other edge square and shod with lead sufficiently 

 weighty to allow" it to ride in the water plumb and sub- 

 merged about three-quarters of its depth ; painted a slate 

 colour. On one side, in the centre, is driven a staple of 

 brass wire, four inches long, on which runs freely a stout 

 brass ring; this is called the bridle. To this ring is 

 attached the reel line of a fishing rod or a hand line. 

 From this main line depends, every four feet, a strong gut 

 dropper about twenty inches long, to which an artificial lake 

 trout or large river fly is attached. There are usually six 



