HOOKS. 207 



machine, whether the twisting engine or the nossil-cock, must 

 be fixed about 7 feet above the ground, and one should stand 

 on a stool or chair (in using the jack), whilst the other attends 

 to and regulates the twisting of the strands, as before described. 



The shorter snoodings are used with the Kentish and 

 Southampton fishing gear (figs. 2 a and 3, pp. 35, 38), the 

 longer with the boat-shaped, Newfoundland, Dartmouth (fig. 4, 

 p. 39), and Grapnel or Creeper Sinker Rigs (fig. 5, p. 40), these 

 being the two classes of long and short snooded tackle or gear. 

 The latter term ' gear ' is that in universal use amongst sailors 

 and sea fishermen, and to which I recommend all my readers 

 to accustom themselves in conversation with men connected 

 with the sea and its belongings, if they wish to be understood. 



Hooks upon single gut are not whipped on as in freshwater 

 fishing, as from the rough treatment they meet with the gut 

 would soon chafe and break. One plan is to make a loop at 

 the end of the gut ; it is first soaked in warm water, then turned 

 back about three inches and a common overhand knot made, 

 but the loop is passed a second time through the ring of the 

 knot before it is drawn tight. This is called the gut knot, and 

 when properly made it looks something like the figure 8, and 

 cripples the gut less than any other tie. It is then fastened 

 by putting the end through the loop, drawing it tight, and 

 making a half hitch below, exactly as with double snooding 

 (see fig. 60 c) ; or it is looped on, as in fig. 60 D. In this a 

 small loop of silk or flax snooding is whipped to the top of 

 the hook, as described below, the gut loop is passed through 

 the loop on the hook and over the lower part, forming a sort 

 of hinge-joint. This is called the Nottingham bend, and has 

 great advantages ; one hook fitted in this manner will outlast 

 ten tied on freshwater fashion. Fig. 60 E shows two hooks 

 whipped to a double piece of fine snooding or strong silk ; the 

 gut is looped on Nottingham fashion. These hooks are used 

 when baiting with small Eels, Lampreys, Mud, and Earth- 

 worms : they are sometimes whipped on to single gut, but are 

 not nearly so durable, the mouth of most salt-water fish being 

 lined with sharp teeth, most trying to fine tackle. 



To whip a hook on to triple gut, wet the gut and make a 



