ii6 THE DAB. 



lines also, but all must depend on the depth of water and the 

 strength of the tide. Provided the leads will keep the bottom, 

 they are sufficiently heavy. The three pairs of the above- 

 mentioned size are a useful average weight. 



These fish mostly remain at the bottom, consequently plenty 

 of line should be given in order that the leads and baits may 

 keep the ground. 



The boat-shaped leads (fig. 7, p. 42) are the best adapted 

 to this fishing, and the snood with two hooks only (No. 13, fig. 

 63, p. 211) should not altogether exceed 5 feet in length from 

 the lead. The baits should be fresh Mussels or Lug- Worms, 

 of which Mussels are decidedly the better for Dabs, but for 

 Plaice Lugs are preferable. The Mussels become more firm if 

 opened the day previous to use. For baiting with Mussels, 

 see under ' Baits,' pp. 50, 187 ; as to Lugs, it is only necessary 

 to pass the hook through them three or four times. Fine white 

 snooding or yellow silk is best for this fishing, unless you use 

 stout gut or ordinary gut twisted double. 



Your lines should be nearly twenty fathoms in length each, 

 supposing the water to be from seven to ten fathoms in depth, 

 as it is necessary to pay out much more line than the depth of 

 water when there is any tide running, which is the best time to 

 fish, as Dabs and other flat-fish and in fact all fish are then 

 actively on the look out for food. 



The finer kind of Whiting lines are strong enough for this 

 sport. See No. 3, fig. n, p. 48. 



Having moored your boat and baited the two hooks, take 

 the line of the heaviest lead in your right hand about eighteen 

 inches above it, and the snood in your left hand, and swinging 

 it two or three times to and fro, cast it from you on one side of 

 the boat as far as possible (taking care not to hook your fingers 

 whilst so doing), and thus proceed with the whole six ; the 

 lines will then radiate from the boat like the spokes of a wheel 

 (fig. 36, p. 117), and reach further as well as keep clearer than if 

 merely lowered alongside ; they will also thus collect the fish 

 together, as the lines, by the force of the stream, will be drawn 

 towards a common centre. When fish are very plentiful, two 

 lines fully occupy one person. 



