54 A DAY AT LOUGH MELVIN. 



into the shape of a fore-and-aft midship 

 section of a ship. This is leaded on the 

 edge that represents the keel, so as to swim 

 edgeways. The principle on which it acts is 

 that of a river barge, where the towing-line 

 is so adjusted, that the barge proceeds in a 

 straight line through the water, though the 

 line acts at an angle. 



In the case of the otter, that part of the 

 towing-line nearest the float, which is tech- 

 nically called the back-line, is made of three- 

 fold barbers' silk, light, but very strong, to 

 which, at intervals of three or four feet, are 

 looped all manner of flies, to the number of 

 from fifteen to thirty : to this is attached an 

 ordinary salmon reel-line, which generally 

 leads through the rings of a short, stiff rod. 



When all is ready, the float is launched 

 by an attendant, the fisherman, with the 

 rod in his hand, either taking a boat or 

 following the line of the coast, and giving 

 line or reeling it up, as occasion requires. 

 On account of the particular angle at which 

 the line acts, the otter, on being pulled, 

 slips out to sea, somewhat on the principle 

 of a boy's kite, keeping nearly at right 

 angles with the fisherman's course, and, con- 



