TOOLS USED IN FISHING. 7 



Sinkers and Swivels. 



The ordinary plain sinker is made of lead, shaped 

 round like a pipe-stem, and swelling out in the 

 middle. There are loops of brass wire on either end 

 to attach the line. The weight is from a quarter of 

 an ounce for trout fishing up to a couple of pounds 

 or more for sea bass and porgies. The swivel sinker 

 is similar to the plain one, except that instead of 

 loops, there are swivels on each end to attach the 

 line. This is a decided improvement, as it prevents 

 the line from twisting and tangling. In trolling, 

 swivel sinkers are indispensable. The slide sinker, 

 for bottom fishing, is a leaden tube which allows the 

 line to slip through it, when the fish bites. This is 

 an excellent arrangement, inasmuch as you feel the 

 smallest bite, whereas in the other case the fish must 

 first move the sinker before you feel him. Split shot 

 are sometimes put on trout lines in place of a sinker. 

 Independent swivels are useful in some kinds of 

 fishing to prevent the entanglement of your line.* 



Leaders. 



The silk-worm gut is almost imperceptible in wa- 

 ter, and for leaders therefore is the best possible sub- 

 stance. The gut is taken from the worm just as it 

 is ready to spin, and its size varies with the size of the 

 insect, some being as fine as a horse-hair, and others 

 ten times that size. The strands are usually from 

 nine inches to two feet in length, and are just suited 

 to leaders. The tackle stores supply these leaders, 



