THE SPILLER, LONG LINE, OR TROT. 31 



bottom and hangs, the string breaks and the buoy 

 goes overboard, marking the place for a boat to 

 go and pick up the dredge. 



THE SPILLER, LONG LINE, OR TROT. 



Spiller fishing is generally very profitable to 

 those who pursue it, and is amusing to the ama- 

 teur from the variety and quantity of fish caught, 

 mostly those which inhabit the bottom of the sea, 

 such as the plaice, dabs, flukes, flounders, small 

 rays, pipers, gurnets, connors, congers, &c. The 

 spiller is constructed in the following manner. 

 Procure a strong piece of hemp line not quite as 

 stout as a drawing pencil, from 100 yards to one 

 mile in length, called the "back," and at every 

 fathom or so is fixed by a properly prepared piece 

 of twine a hook ; this piece of twine is prepared by 

 cutting a portion from the hank twice as long 

 as you will require, then take an old sheave of a 

 block, putting a cork in the hole in which the pin 



