144 HARBOUR GROUND-FISHING. 



the length required to reach from just above high-watermark to 

 the block ; make fast sufficient Cod-hooks, in size i inch across 

 from point to shank, to pieces of strong Whiting-line 4 feet 

 long, and secure them to the main line at not less than 8 feet 

 apart, and reeving the line through the block carry both ends 

 up above high-water mark, and make fast to another post, 

 which will enable you to haul in or out at pleasure : bait with 

 pieces of Squid or Cuttle-fish, Pilchard or Mackerel, or Sand- 

 Eels I prefer the two former. 



If you wish your tackle available at all times, make a 

 separate bulter half the length of the outhaul, to which you 

 must join it, and in that case you may leave down the outhaul 

 continually. Five feet nearer to the block than the outermost 

 hook lash on a stout piece of stick six inches long, to prevent 

 the snooding of that hook choking the block. 



This outhaul bulter must be used when the water is free from 

 floating weed, which would probably choke the block ; at such 

 times fish only with the leger lines. If you have plenty of bait, 

 you may of course use more hooks. 



Should you leave this line down after dark, you will also 

 take Conger, and if you do so use stout double snooding, 

 which should be traced over with hemp, as shown in fig. 47, 

 article * Conger ' (p. 178). 



HARBOUR GROUND-FISHING. 



(From a boat.} 



Use a heavy boat-shaped lead and a three-fathom snooding 

 of strong hemp, with two hooks, size No. 8 (fig. 63, p .2 1 1) tied to 

 two feet each of stout gimp ; bait with a living or dead Sand- 

 Eel the former to be preferred, or pieces of Squid or Cuttle- 

 fish three inches long and one and a half wide ; hook them by 

 one end, and turning over pass the hook through the second 

 time. A whole Soft Crab is also a good bait. 



When a Sand- Eel, enter the hook at the mouth, and, 

 bringing it out at the gills, hook it slightly across the throat. 



A fifteen-fathom line without lead may also be used with 

 advantage. Anchor the boat in a run of tide, and fish on the 



