HOW TO RELEASE A FOULED LINE. 195 



may be to a great extent avoided in ordinary rivers, by 

 care in steering it clear of all suspicious-looking places, 

 such as weed-beds, snags, turfs, and other impediments. 

 But in spite of every precaution, should a lurking stump 

 or weed entangle the hook, I have found it the best 

 plan to proceed thus : Draw more line off the reel, lay 

 down the rod, and reaching as far as possible, pull the 

 line firmly but gradually, avoiding all sudden tugs, 

 which will either snap it through, or strain it in- 

 juriously ; and if this does not release it, as in many 

 cases it will, then give a few gentle though more decided 

 tugs, and in most instances the hold will give way, and 

 the hook be recovered. If in spite of all our efforts 

 we should fail in accomplishing our object, then the 

 only plan is to strip, take the water, and release it by 

 hand ; or if this is impracticable, the line must be 

 forcibly but steadily strained, until some part of the gut 

 gives way. And as the finest lengths ought to be next 

 the hook, the fracture will usually occur near to the 

 latter, and the loss of gut be but trifling. 



Should the angler be provided either with a clearing- 

 ring or drag-hook, he may use them as follows : 



The Drag-Hook consists of three strong blunt-pointed 

 iron hooks, placed back to back so as to form a triangle, 

 having its shank weighted with lead, and a strong cord 

 attached to it. It is thrown over and beyond any 

 object to which the line may be fixed, when the hooks 

 lay hold of it and drag it ashore ; but it is neither so 

 portable nor efficient an implement, in my opinion, as 

 the clearing-ring, unless it be in pike-trolling in weedy 



