1 66 THE HAKE. 



usually proceed at the same time, and are managed in the 

 following manner : the Pilchard nets having been shot out in a 

 straight line, the boat is made fast to the last net and drifts 

 along with the tide ; the lines, four or five in number, are then 

 put out baited with fresh Pilchards. Hake vary in size from 

 five or six to twelve pounds in weight, and large hooks and 

 strong tackle are therefore necessary ; the hooks are not less 

 than two inches from point to shank, with 8-inch shanks having 

 an eye at the top. Their sharp and huge teeth would soon cut 

 through the snood of a short-shanked hook. Pilchard is con- 

 sidered the best bait, but they will also take a piece of Whiting, 

 Mackerel, or other fresh fish. Before the Pilchard season 

 commences it is the custom to fish for them at anchor, but the 

 success is not usually so great as when drifting with the Pilchard 

 nets. 



Making, as it is called, is always practised at night, for they 

 do not feed well during the day. I have known as many as 50 

 dozen Hake and 5,000 Pilchards taken in one night by one 

 boat, with a crew of three or four men and a boy. 



To bait with a Pilchard, enter the hook close to the tail and 

 bring it out the other side, then pass the hook through the 

 second time, as shown in the frontispiece. Half a small 

 Mackerel or Whiting is also often used, for which see under 

 ' Conger,' p. 179. For Hake or Conger-fishing a stout truncheon 

 like a policeman's staff, should be provided, made out of a 

 piece of heavy wood, to stun the fish with a smart blow or two 

 behind the head, without which it is difficult to hold them. 

 This will also serve as a disgorger (see p. 53). 



Use the boat-shaped sinkers as for Whiting, half a pound 

 leads aft, one and a half pound amidships, and three pounds 

 forward if you use six lines, but four are mostly sufficient when 

 drifting. If at anchor, heavier leads may be required. For 

 size of line, see fig. n, No. 2, p. 48. 



You try first at the bottom, then a few fathoms higher, then 

 shallower still, until you meet with the fish, as they are not 

 always at the bottom, but swim at various depths, following the 

 shoals of Pilchards, Sprats, &c., on which they feed. 



The length of line from the lead to the hook is usually 



