57 



ing, all that will be wanted. The larger tackle should 

 consist of a line, about seventy or eighty yards long, as 

 thick as a good sized crow quill, very firmly made, and 

 either white or black ; but I prefer the latter, on account 

 of its not increasing so much in thickness when wet $ and 

 that it throws off the water better when drawn in -, con- 

 sequently, is not so long in drying, and less liable to rot. 



To such a line, you should have a hook about t\\ o 

 inches long in the shank, about three quarters of an inch 

 broad from the point to the shank (measuring to the out- 

 side), and about the same depth in the bend : the point 

 very sharp, the beard very well cut and raised ; and the 

 tip of the butt a little flattened, to prevent the whipping 

 from sliding off. 



The lesser line should be of the smallest sized whip- 

 cord, and about forty yards long : the hook about an inch 

 long, with a suitable bend, sharp point, &c. as above 

 described : it ought to be very stout. The first kind may 

 be had under the designation of small cod-hooks j the 

 latter under the name of mackerel- hooks ; together with 

 the appropriate lines, under the same terms. 



Each kind of line will require to be leaded, according 

 to the depth, or strength, of water in which it is cast. The 

 best that can be used are the coffin-leads, already de- 

 scribed, which should be kept up at about a foot, or two, 

 from the hook, by means of a piece of packthread inter- 

 woven among the strands of the line, so as to form a neat 

 knot., or rather a kind of collar for the lead to rest upon. 

 The sizes of these leads may be from one to four ounces. 



The angler will derive convenience from having a neat 

 spliced loop at the top of his foot length 5 which should 

 be about four feet long, and another at the bottom of his 



line 



