LINE-FISHING, 3 1 1 



hand-line fishing the vessel is hove-to, and each of the 

 crew works one line, keeping the baits a few inches from 

 the bottom, unless the herrings are about, as then the cod 

 come nearer the surface, and it is often only necessary to 

 allow one or two fathoms of line. It is found that the 

 fish do not bite very freely during a great part of the day, 

 so that it is not necessary for everyone to be at work till 

 towards sunset ; then all hands are kept fully employed. 

 The cod are put into the well as soon as caught, just as in 

 the case of long-lining. In the Channel, and especially on 

 the Devonshire coast, there is an important fishery for 

 whiting during the summer months, and this is carried on 

 entirely with hand-lines, but with smaller lines and hooks, 

 and with leads varying in weight according to the strength 

 of the tides. In whiting-fishing the boats come to anchor, 

 and the fishing is begun at some few miles from the land, 

 the fish coming closer in as the summer advances. On the 

 other hand, mackerel-fishing is, as a rule, carried on when 

 the boat is moving well through the water ; lines with 

 boat-shaped or short pear-shaped leads being towed after 

 her. When a light lead is used from a rowing boat, the 

 method of fishing is called " whining," and working witty a 

 heavier lead from a sailing boat " railing " ; but practically 

 there is little difference but the weight of the lead between 

 the two modes of fishing. In the west of England it is the 

 practice with the fishermen in the small sailing boats they 

 work in to have a pole piojecting on each side of the boat 

 and to these the lines are fastened, an in-haul to each 

 enabling the line to be brought on board. With these 

 contrivances the lines can be more spread and an additional 

 number used. Another mode of line-fishing is by a plan 

 perhaps better known in freshwater fishing than in the sea. 

 The line is properly called a " paternoster," and has a 



