A Fishing Expedition. 49 



is, if strong enough, the better, because it takes a 

 firmer grip. A single wire will do ; but two thin ones 

 are preferable. Thin copper wire is as flexible as 

 thread. Brass wire is not so good ; it is stiffer, and 

 too conspicuous in the water. 



At the shank end a stout string is attached in 

 the middle of its length. Then the wire is placed 

 against the rod, lying flat upon it for about six inches. 

 The strings are now wound round tightly in opposite 

 directions, binding it to the stick, so that at the top 

 the ends cross and are in position to tie in the slight 

 notch cut for the purpose. A loop that will allow 

 four fingers to enter together is about large enough, 

 though of course it must be varied according to the 

 size of the jack in view. Heavy jacks are not often 

 wired, and scarcely ever in brooks. 



For jack the shape of the loop should be circular ; 

 for trout it should be oval, and considerably larger 

 in proportion to the apparent bulk of the fish. Jack 

 are straight-grown and do not thicken much in the 

 middle ; with trout it is different. The noose should 

 be about six inches from the top of the rod. Orion 

 said he would go twenty yards farther up ; I went 

 direct from the centre of the withy-bed to the stream. 



The bank rose a little above the level of the 

 withy-bed ; it was a broad mound full of ash stoles 



E 



