148 SPINNING-TACKLE. 



it nearly reaches the tail, when the hooks will lie along- 

 side the spread of the tail-fin, and the whole is ready for 

 action. The belly-lead is a laterally compressed cylin- 

 der of lead, with the requisite twist to cause the bait to 

 spin, and with barbs raised up from its surface pointing 

 towards the mouth, which effectually prevent the min- 

 now from becoming crumpled up upon the line by the 

 action of the current ; while an elevated margin is left 

 on a portion of the thick end at b, where a perforation 

 is made for the gut to pass through. Although numer- 

 ous fish may be expected to run at this tackle without 

 being secured, yet it will be the means of effecting the 

 capture of others, whose suspicions would be at once on 

 the qui vive were there a more conspicuous array of 

 hooks ; and the chances of capture among the extra num- 

 ber of fish that may be tempted to seize it may counter- 

 balance the number of those lost. 



a 



d 



FIG. 22. MINNOW-SPINNING TACKLE. 



This arrangement somewhat resembles Fig. 20 in the 

 position of the hooks ; but in the way in which it is ap- 

 lied to the bait the whole of the gut to which they are 

 attached is concealed internally, instead of being ex- 

 hibited on the outside, hence it is a neat and efficient set. 

 But the chief objection I have to it is, that it is rather 

 troublesome to bait a drawback which puts the angler's 



