48 TANNING LINES. BAITS. 



line for Mackerel ; and No. 5 is snooding for Whiting in the 

 offing, and Eels and Flounders in harbour. When anything 

 finer is requisite, we mostly use gut, double or single. 



Weight per 



3 thrcad i" 2*5? 



Ib. 



FIG. ii. 



Barking or Tanning Lines. Catechu and oak-bark are 

 used for this purpose : half a pound of catechu to three pints 

 of water and a handful of oak-bark, if you can get it ; pulverise 

 and boil until the catechu is well dissolved, then pour over the 

 lines in a basin or tub and allow to soak twenty-four hours. 

 There is no objection to using oak-bark exclusively if you are 

 near a tan-yard or bark-mill, but a gallon of oak-bark has not 

 more power of tanning than half a pound of catechu. In a 

 town catechu is often procurable when oak-bark is not to be 

 obtained. 



Baits. In the choice of bait for Whiting-fishing much 

 must depend on the particular locality. Some of the following 

 are to be had almost everywhere: viz., fresh Pilchards, fresh 

 Mackerel, Mussels and Lug-worms, Gar-fish, also called Long- 

 Nose, Snipe-Eel or Scoot, and fresh Herrings. 



Fresh Pilchards are undoubtedly the most attractive bait 

 (salt ones are also sometimes used), being very full of oil, so 

 full indeed that pellicles of it may be seen to float away on the 

 surface when you drop your bait in the water ; this no doubt 

 circulates through the water, as smoke through the air, and 

 serves as a clue to guide the fish to the bait. The intestine 

 of the Pilchard should always be saved, as it forms perhaps 

 the best bait of the whole : Mackerel is also very good, for 

 although it is not as rich as Pilchard, it is very much tougher, 



