A SEASIDE YARX. 41 



line on it, should be used. To this append a six- 

 foot trace of strong twisted gut, armed with two 

 Xo. 3 Limerick trout-hooks, after the manner of a 

 common paternoster ; with a sinker or lead at the 

 end, light enough to be carried by the mn of the tide 

 well under the hulk, but of sufficient weight to keep 

 your line tight. 



Bait with a small fish, such as a sand-launce, smelt, 

 or sprat, or in lieu of these a strip of cuttle-fish ; a 

 couple of large mud-worms, which will be found 

 figured in my little work, Sea-Fish, and how to 

 cfi.tdi them ; or a strong strip of pilchard gut, 

 hooked by the hard end. These tempting morsels 

 should then be allowed to sink away, quietly carried 

 by the run down which you are fishing until well 

 among the bass, then by a series of short " lifts " bring 

 your bait back again ; when, if fortune favours, and 

 the fish prove a large one, some little care and ma- 

 nagement will be needed. Bear well in mind that 

 fish are not " hosses," or you will come to grief to a 

 certainty. Keep the top of your rod well up, and 

 don't give an inch of line unless it is taken. A wide 

 strong landing-net is far better than a gaff for this 

 kind of sport, and it should be always at hand. 

 Large polluck, and a variety of other fish, are taken 

 when fishing in this way ; and here perhaps a few 

 words touching the question of the superiority of fine 

 over coarse tackle may not come amiss before pro- 



