THE MACKEREL. 



127 



Booms or Bobbers for Mackerel-fishing. The Hampshire 

 and Devonshire fishermen, and those of some other portions 

 of the coast, use a stout rod or small spar rigged out over the 

 gunwale of the boat, the length of which is about 15 or 1 6 feet; 

 two of these rods, booms, or bobbers, are secured to the main 

 rigging of the boat, so that they may not drag backwards by the 

 strain of the lines, which hang from the tops of these bobbers, 

 being made fast to a separate piece of line, one end of which 

 is secured to the top of the rod, the other to the fishing line, 

 the end of which with the reel is kept inboard. (See ' A Day 

 with the Mackerel,' p. 131). In large boats exceeding 4 feet 

 draught, they are useful to keep the lines out of the disturbed 

 water, but in small boats their advantage is questionable. With 

 the graduated lines here described, in Guernsey the fishermen 

 are just as successful without them. 



It is possible to go too fast for Mackerel : at four miles 

 an hour the heavy leads will do good service ; carry there- 

 fore only sufficient sail to ensure good * dray-way ' through 

 the water. 



Artificial Baits consist of white and red feather, or other 

 gaudy flies (see fig. 33, p. 89), or mother-of-pearl fish 2 inches 

 long, and of late years artificial spinning baits have been intro- 

 duced. They are especially useful for Mackerel-fishing, although 

 other kinds of fish are taken with them. Every amateur should 

 keep a few by him, as they are as cheap as useful. I prefer 

 them with one hook for Mackerel-fishing. A bit of tobacco- 

 pipe (fig. 41) is often used by fishermen with much success, 



FIG. 41. Tobacco-pipe bait for Mackerel. 



and the best plan of fixing it is as here represented, which can, 

 however, only be managed with a Limerick hook ; having no 

 flattened top, this will enter the hole in the pipe easily. How- 

 ever, sea-fishermen often use it with a common sea-hook, and 



