THE MACKEREL. 125 



three, two, and one pound weight, with a pair of half-pounders 

 for light weather ; when the three pounds are in use, the halves 

 may be kept on board, and vice versa. 



The length of line is, for the three pounders five fathoms, 

 two ditto seven fathoms, one pound nine fathoms, and halves 

 twelve fathoms ; and the length of snood below the lead, one 

 and a half fathom for the three pounders, two fathoms for the 

 two pounders, and two and a half for the leads of one, and of 

 a half-pound weight, to the ends of which two or three feet of 

 the strongest single silkworm Salmon-gut is added, and to this 

 the hook is bent. At Plymouth for some years gimp has been 

 used for snood between the lead and the gut bottom. It is very 

 pleasant to use, as it is weighty and does not readily blow on 

 board when cast to windward, but must not be trusted beyond 

 one season, as the salt-water causes verdigris, which rots the 

 silk inside. The half-breadth sheer boat-shaped leads are now 

 used for Mackerel-fishing under sail with success at Plymouth. 

 See p. 45. 



Six feet of very stout cord should be fastened to the inner 

 end of each line, which will not chafe away so quickly as the 

 line itself as it passes over the gunwale of the boat, and, at the 

 other end of the line above the lead, a piece of whalebone or 

 elder-wood, 3 inches in length, should revolve on a short 

 leather sling to which the line is bent on, as shown in the cut. 



The hole in this piece of wood or whalebone should be large 

 enough to allow of its working freely, which will tend to prevent 

 fouling. 



The stoutest kip upper leather is preferred for the sling ; 

 cut a strip 3 inches long, the breadth equal to the thickness, 

 make a half-inch slit near each end, pare off the edges, and 

 round it by rolling it under foot on the floor. The best snooding 

 is that of the double Bridport flax make, or double Shrewsbury 

 thread, No. 18, laid up by a rope-maker. The lines with one 

 pound and half-pound leads are also very useful in Pollack- 

 fishing, in sailing or rowing, to save the wear of the horse-hair 

 lines. 



Boats above 6 tons often tow four-pound leads in front, and 

 use besides a pair of threes and twos ; this is chiefly in strong 



