26 SEA FISH ; 



called, with rather a heavily shotted trace, keeping 

 rather a short line, and following down the course of 

 the stream, letting the bait drop away until it touches 

 the bottom, and then drawing it slowly up again with 

 a short tremulous movement of the rod. When a fish is 

 felt, slacken your line instantly, until a second or even 

 a third tug is felt, when you may fix your hook by a 

 smart sidelong stroke from the wrist. A species of 

 trimmer is also used in some localities for taking 

 salmon. It is thus prepared and used : A bullock's 

 bladder is inflated with air, its mouth securely 

 fastened with waxed thread, and a piece of tough stick, 

 about four inches long, made fast to it; round this the 

 line is wound until a sufficient length, say about four 

 feet, is left. A slit at the end of the stick is then 

 made, by which the line is held as by a spring, until 

 the fish takes, when the bladder runs round and allows 

 the line to be unwound from the stick, giving line to 

 the fish, which is followed in a boat and soon taken. 

 A number of these poaching contrivances, which are 

 generally baited with sand launce, are set afloat at 

 once on the coming of the tide, and are allowed to 

 drift with it up creeks and rivers. Pish of various 

 kinds can be taken in this w r ay. 



The Cross Line. 



Although considered a poaching contrivance, there 

 are places where its use may be to some extent con- 



