46 THE TRIMMER. 



is a round flat piece of cork, four or five inches 

 in diameter and about an inch thick; round 

 the edge is cut a groove, sufficiently deep to 

 hold the cord-line, which is about five yards 

 in length at most ; through the centre of the 

 flat side is fixed a peg, with a notch in it for 

 the line to hang in ; one side of the cork is 

 painted red and the other side white ; the line 

 is fitted with bullet and swivel, the same as 

 the bank-runner, the trimmer itself acting as 

 float ; the hook is baited the same as in live- 

 bait fishing. When the trimmer is started in 

 the water, the white side, from which the 

 notched peg should project about four inches, 

 floats uppermost ; the line is then placed in 

 the notch, allowing the bait to hang about 

 four or five feet below the trimmer, but this 

 should be regulated according to the general 

 depth of the water. 



When a Jack seizes the bait, he pulls the 

 trimmer over, and it then floats red side up, 

 showing that there is a fish on. The trimmer 

 may now be got out, either with the assistance 

 of a boat or by throwing a drag over it, if the 

 distance is not too great. 



In some parts of the country a large bladder 

 is used as a trimmer, the line being tied 

 securely to the neck, and a full-sized dace or 

 roach being used for the bait ; the line in this 

 case should not exceed two yards. 



Ducks and geese are sometimes used instead 

 of the bladder, for the same purpose, the line 



