WEIGHTING THE LINE 41 



however, be of the colour of the water ; light green is per- 

 haps the best general tint, and best adapted for clear 

 water, as it resembles a film of confervge, and the mode of 

 dying it is elsewhere described. They should not be left 

 white, and it is of great importance to have one or more 

 foot lines stained of a reddish sandy hue for use after a 

 flood. For roach fishing the line should be of gut. For 

 perch, a well-plaited horse-hair line is the best, and many 

 anglers use this as a reel line foi all purposes, and vary 

 only the foot line. The lines should be weighted carefully 

 and neatly with split shot, or what is equally as good, fine 

 strips of the thin lead with which tea chests are lined, and 

 which may be obtained of any grocer. These strips are 

 handy, and can be easily wound round the lower links of 

 the line ; they are also easier adjusted, and are not so liable 

 to injure the gut as split shot, which have an awkward 

 knack of breaking, nipping, and pinching the line. It is 

 also more convenient to carry, less liable to be lost, and can 

 be taken off the line with less trouble, and what is more 

 important, with less liability of damage to the line than 

 the shot. 



No hook, as before mentioned, should be used without 

 being carefully tried. They should be whipped on to the 

 line as neatly and as delicately as possible with slightly- 

 waxed silk the colour of the bait intended to be used. 

 The whipping must be neatly done to be successful. Hooks 

 for gentles, greaves, paste, and grain should be sneck bent, 

 bliort in the shank, and may be whipped to the bend of 

 the hook, so that the bait may readily cover the wire, and 

 not slip off easily, which would be the case if the long, 

 shanked and straight-bent hooks were used. The latter, how- 

 ever, are the best for worm baits, as they enable the worm 



