CHAPTER XII 



THE TRIMMER, AND HOW TO USE IT. 



IN ponds of moderate dimensions, excellent fun may 

 be had by setting half a dozen trimmers adrift, baited 

 with worm or living minnows, during the time the 

 angler is occupied with his rod ; and these will often 

 succeed in making captures when his efforts with the 

 latter may be unavailing ; especially if there is a good 

 breeze to keep them in motion. 



The trimmer is neither more nor less than a miniature 

 edition of that used in pike-fishing, and is thus con- 

 structed : 



Take a good large-sized sound cork bung, from 

 an inch and a half to two inches in diameter, and with 

 a sharp knife cut a groove around its circumference, for 

 the purpose of winding the line upon, and then insert a 

 piece of wood through its centre. This stick, or mast, 

 must stand for an inch and a half to two inches above 

 the upper surface of the cork, and project about half an 

 inch below it. While the upper part of the mast may 

 be neatly tapered, and have a fine slit sawn in its tip, 

 into which a small piece of paper may be fixed, in order 

 to render its position easily discernible when far out 

 in the water, the under extremity must have a hole 



