19 



see the efforts of the fish thus caught 3 the bladder is 

 pulled under, and appears at intervals often at remote 

 parts, but gradually shews its powers over the self- 

 exhausting fish, and ultimately riding triumphant; the 

 fish being unable to draw it under water, and often 

 coming to the surface so completely exhausted, as to be 

 lifted out without the power to escape. 



Some call this kind of float, the fox -hound-, others, the 

 flying-float : the former is, I believe, the most general 

 designation 5 but the latter is certainly the most applicable. 



Of Split Shot, and other Weights. 



The usual sizes of shot for fixing on lines are, from 

 swan-shot down to No. 4 of the patent mode of register- 

 ing. They should be split about three-fifths through with 

 a chisel, which makes them gape sufficiently to admit 

 any line of ordinary thickness. When the line is put into 

 the slit, pinch the lips of it together with a pair of plyers, 

 if at hand, as you can then see what you do ; otherwise, 

 press them between your teeth. 



It is proper that the line should pass, as nearly as may 

 be practicable, down the middle of each shot, and that the 

 slits be well closed 5 else they will rip the water, and 

 hitch the line, as well as weeds, &c. 



The depth of still water may be easily ascertained by 

 your line, if one or two good sized shot are on it, with- 

 out any other weight. As your shot are generally about 

 nine inches from the bait ; if you shift your float until it 

 just reclines a little, you then may be sure that the shot 

 touch the bottom 5 consequently, the intermediate space 

 between them and die broadest part of your float, is the 

 measure of the water at the spot where you sounded it, 



It 



