Methods of fitting up Trolling Tackle. 85 



an inch from the end of the shank of the larger hook. 

 This will leave about half an inch of clear gut between 

 the whippings. The stinting should be of good round 

 gut about two yards long, tied with water-knots, either 

 wrapped with silk thread or not, according to fancy. 

 In this should be fastened two swivels, the one about a 

 foot and a half from the bait, the other three feet distant 

 from it. Two, three, or more split shot should now be 

 fastened on half way between the swivels, for angling in 

 strong or discoloured water, to keep the bait down ; but 

 these are not requisite in clear-water fishing with a very 

 small Minnow. 



The swivels are best fitted in by loops in the gut. 

 The casting-line should be fine but strong, with not less 

 than four good hairs for the end next the gut, and only 

 about a yard or a yard and a half long, to enable you to 

 fish with a short line in small brooks, &c. and be looped 

 on to the reel-line in the same way as the fly-line, when 

 it will be ready for the bait. 



The Minnow is baited on such a tackle in the following 

 way: Insert the point of the large hook into the mouth 

 of the Minnow and run it out at the tail, or nearly so, if 

 your Minnow be rather large for the hooks you have on 

 at the time. Close the mouth of the Minnow, insert the 

 point of the small hook, which is called the lip-hook, into 

 the outside of the under lip and bring out at the top side 

 of the upper lip about the middle of the nose, which will 

 keep the mouth closed, and it is ready for use. Be care- 

 ful to bruise the Minnow as little as possible in the 

 above operation, for it is a tender fish, especially in the 

 belly, which generally fails first. The Angler must use 

 his own discretion as to the size of the Minnows he uses. 

 This ought to vary according to the state and size of the 

 water, and the weight of the trout, &c. which he expects 

 to take. The greatest precaution must be taken to ensure 



