It is very necessary to correct an error which, to my 

 surprise, has crept into most books of instruction. They 

 generally state, that "when your float stands upright, 

 you are off the bottom." Now this is by no means the 

 case ; for your float may just have water enough under 

 it to keep the lowest shot touching the ground, while it 

 may be kept erect by die others above it. 



While in this state, your bait, together with all the line 

 between it and the shot, lay en the ground ! Hence 

 it is obvious, that, after having found the depth at which 

 your float begins to recline, it is necessary to draw it down 

 your line, just as far as there is distance between the upper- 

 most shot and the bottom of your hook. 



By this means your bait will just tail upon tl*e 

 ground, and be peculiarly acceptable to many fishes, 

 especially roach and gudgeons, and eventually to lar- 

 ld> &c. 



Strong currents often require very powerful weights to 

 sound with. Many use round balls, perforated through 

 their centres ; but they do not pack well, are apt to roll 

 at the bottom, and, in many instances, are not sufficiently 

 ponderous to give a true perpendicular. 



The ordinary plumb, sold in the turned cases, which Is 

 only a roll of thin sheet-lead, is not amiss in weak cur- 

 rents, and applies aptly to the line, which it envelopes in 

 a sufficient degree ; but in some parts of rivers, where the 

 waters ran impetuously under banks, and in bends where 

 there are deep holes formed by the rapidity of the 

 stream, they are inadequate to the purpose. Besides, in 

 my opinion, an angler should endeavour to divest him- 

 self of every thing superfluous, and, if possible, to make 

 one thing do two offices. 



Accord* 



