TACKLE. 21 



employ only one large hook as our trail-fly, regulating 

 the droppers accordingly. Many anglers foolishly place 

 the heavier hooks foremost, to the disturbance of those 

 following, and the causing of many mischances. 



We shall devote another chapter to flies, and what 

 concerns them, using the remainder of this in descrip- 

 tions of other tackles and first of all, the worm-tackle. 

 For this, sizeable hooks, short in the shank and dressed 

 upon fine round gut, are generally preferred Nos. 9, 

 10, and 1 1. Some bait-fishers, however, use the smaller 

 sorts ; but these, we think, are apt to miss the trout, 

 especially when covered with a largeish worm. The 

 bait-tackle ought to be loaded about ten or twelve inches 

 above the hook with a pellet or two of lead, in order 

 that rapid streams may not carry it away too quickly, 

 or on the surface, since trout in general seize worm 

 near the bottom, and take no pains to catch at a swift 

 bait. Salmon-roe fishing may be practised with the 

 single hook, although more successfully when a double 

 or even treble-brazed one is used, which better secures 

 the ova and loose paste. This, however, should be 

 small and short in the shank, so as to deceive the 

 fish. 



Minnow-tackles are of various kinds, according to 

 the fancy of the angler. The most simple, and in some 

 places the most deadly, is a common single bait hook. 

 This we insert through the back of the minnow, and 

 drawing it out, run below the gill, allowing the barb to 

 protrude from the mouth ; we then tie up the tail 

 along the gut, either with a piece of silk thread, or 

 more expeditiously with the gut itself, hitched over the 

 part. This is angled with in the same manner as the 

 worm, allowing plenty of time for the fish to gorge. A 

 tackle similar to it may be used in standing pools or 

 lochs. Here, however, the shank of the hook (a long 



