32 BOTTOM FISHING IN THE NOTTINGHAM STYLE. 



obviated by a slight pressure on the edge of the reel, with 

 the forefinger of the hand that grasps the rod close to the 

 reel. A little practice will soon make one master of this 

 operation. It is said that the whole system is more difficult 

 than the one in ordinary use on the Thames ; but then it is 

 very much neater, and more deadly when once acquired. 



The line that I should recommend for general bottom 

 fishing would be one of medium strength and thickness ; the 

 very fine roach and dace lines would be scarcely strong 

 enough for barbel, chub, or bream. The next gauge would 

 be the best. I like one of Walter Well's (of Nottingham) 

 chub lines (alas ! poor fellow, he has gone on that long 

 journey from which there is no return ; but the lines can 

 still be procured from the same family, good as ever) ; they 

 are fine, but strong, and are capable of killing barbel, chub, 

 or bream, while they are not too coarse for roach and dace, 

 and are very reasonable in price. I only gave Is. 6d. for 

 mine, and it is eighty yards long. Be careful when pur- 

 chasing these lines to examine them closely ; for, remember, 

 there are lines and lines ; buy those that feel nice and soft 

 to the fingers, and are not too tightly twisted. Don't have 

 those that feel sharply rough to the fingers and are twisted 

 very tight, for they rot with the action of the water a deal 

 sooner than the others ; and remember also when you come 

 home from fishing, and your line is very wet, to dry it care- 

 fully and gradually in front of the fire. A piece of card- 

 board, about a foot square, is the best for this. Unwind as 

 much line from the reel as is wet, and wrap it around the 

 cardboard, and set it upright on something, about a yard 

 from the fire, and turn it about until it is dry on both sides. 

 Don't, in short, put a line away wet, for that rots them 

 sooner than anything else. 



And now having glanced at the rod, reel, and line of a 

 Nottingham bottom fisher, we will just look at his floats. 

 These are for the most part composed of good sound goose, 

 pelican, and swan quills, with a cork float or two of different 

 sizes for fishing in a heavy stream for barbel. A ring is 

 whipped to the bottom of either sort for the line to pass 

 through, and a cap made of quill is put on the top, which 



