TROLLING. 117 



smoothly by the side of your bait-line, and if 

 not, rub it with Indian rubber till it does. Your 

 hook is then ready for action, and action indeed 

 it may be called if properly done. I should ob- 

 serve, that a new gut seldom spins the minnow 

 so well as one that is half worn out (by reason 

 of the stiffness which encircles the minnow's 

 gill). Therefore ten minutes soaking in water, 

 and sometimes a little hard friction of the gut, 

 just above the large hook, may at first be re- 

 quired ; besides the working it with Indian rub- 

 ber. So much for this plan ; there may be 

 many better; but all I can say is, that I have 

 as yet (June 28th. 1824,) never seen one fit to 

 be named with it. 



The rod for trolling: should be from eighteen 

 to twenty feet long, and made as light as pos- 

 sible, though neither too pliable nor top heavy. 

 This rod, of course, requires two hands ; no 

 matter therefore where the reel is placed. If 

 the top is too stiff', you strain a fish's mouth so 

 much as to run the risk of breaking out his 

 hold, which is nine times in ten on one of the 

 three small fly-hooks. But if the top is too pli- 

 ant, the fish will frequently make his escape on 

 first being pricked. Here, therefore, as in all 

 things, the medium is best. A minnow must, 

 of course be thrown under-handed, and the line 

 got well 011 the swing before it is sent out. 



