GORGE-HOOKS THINLY LEADED. 189 



that the lead be somewhat flattened, and be 

 rather of a compressed oval shape than round. 

 Mr. Salter judiciously observes (I have al- 

 ready recommended a gorge-tackle of the sort 

 for trolling amongst weeds, in narrow and foul 

 bottomed rivers, where you need not cast far); "I 

 generally remove about a third of the lead from 

 the brass of those hooks which I find kept ready 

 for sale in the fishing-tackle shops, because I have 

 found, when the lead lies nearly the whole of the 

 length of the bait-fish, and especially of a bleak 

 or thin roach, that when the jack strikes it, his 

 teeth pierce through the flesh and touch the 

 lead ; he then immediately drops the bait. Now, 

 by removing a part of the lead, as above directed, 

 the angler will find the remainder to be sufficient 

 for sinking, &c. his bait, and that it will lie at 

 the bottom of the bait's throat, or only a little 

 lower ; and as jack generally seize their prey by 

 or across the middle, in such case their teeth 

 seldom come in contact with the lead, and they 

 then retire, without fear, to their haunts, and soon 

 pouch the whole." 



Mr. Elaine observes, " The method of holding 

 the rod differs in the practice of different anglers ; 

 some grasp it firmly in their right hand, and de- 

 pend on the strength of their arm for delivering 

 the bait out to its extent, but we apprehend that 

 much the better method is that of resting the 



