I2 4 



THE MACKEREL. 



posing she is handy under sail, whether a sprit, a gaff, or working 

 lug sail (see ' Boats and Boating '), but the ordinary or dipping- 

 lug is not, as it must be lowered, dipped, and hoisted anew 

 every time the boat tacks. In addition, it is a rig fraught with 

 risk, unless in the most practised hands, for if taken aback, the 

 portion of sail before the mast is so large, that the risk of capsiz- 

 ing is imminent, as the tack being fixed to the stem or weather 

 bow, the boat cannot readily be freed from the pressure. 



Lines. For reeling or railing that is to say, towing weighty 

 plummets under sail I do not find any kind of lines equal to 

 those made of the double Bridport flax or cotton snooding, 

 manufactured for Guernsey to the pattern furnished by the late 

 Peter le Noury, which, consisting only of two strands, do not 

 evince that tendency to snarl and become entangled so often 

 characteristic of a threefold line (fig. n, p. 48, No. 4). 



Leads. Much variety exists in the shape of Mackerel leads, 

 but I find the most expert fishermen of both Great Britain and 

 France have (in all probability without comparison of their 



FIG. 39. Plummet-lead and Revolving Chopstick. 



experiences) adopted those of either a 

 spherical or fig- shaped form (fig. 39), both 

 of which will tow after the boat more 

 quietly and steadily than those of a dif- 

 ferent shape ; this latter property is an 

 essential requirement, and the want of it 

 will lead to continual fouling if using from four to six lines. 



As a round lead, of course, evinces a disposition to roll, a 

 slip of wood 2 or 3 feet long is commonly nailed along the seat 

 or water-way of the boat to steady it, when you drop the lead to 

 haul in a fish by the snood. Sailing boats of from 17 feet and 

 upwards should be provided with a set of three pairs of lines, of 



