230 THE TRIMMER, AND HOW TO USE IT. 



groove of the trimmer, and the ring stuck into its hole 

 (ready made to receive it), leaving no more line between 

 the former and the hook, than will serve to suspend the 

 latter just clear of the bottom in the shallowest part of 

 the water over which it must pass : otherwise it will 

 be apt to get anchored on the shallow and remain. The 

 angler must then repair to the windward side of the 

 pond, and set the trimmers afloat, each baited with a 

 well-scoured lively worm, or a live minnow (the latter 

 with the hook through the base of the dorsal fin), one 

 after another, at a few yards separate, along the margin, 

 when the wind will slowly propel them across towards 

 the opposite side. "When the fish seize the bait, they 

 will withdraw the wire ring e, and unwind the line off 

 the groove, which will give them sufficient play. An 

 animated contest will now ensue between the trout and 

 the trimmer, which will speedily manifest itself by the 

 erratic motions of the latter ; and the next consideration 

 will be how to recover the machine with its victim. In 

 order to do this, a triangular hook of stout iron wire 

 must be attached to a line of fine whipcord, or a jack- 

 line (even a couple of large-sized pike-hooks tied back 

 to back may answer the purpose), which the angler must 

 endeavour to pitch over and beyond the trimmer, and 

 between it and the fish the direction in which the 

 latter is proceeding being indicated by the movements 

 of the apparatus ; when, on hauling it in again, the hooks 

 will lay hold of the line, and readily haul it ashore. If 

 the trimmer gets beyond the reach of the drag-hook, in 

 the centre of an extensive pond, the sportsman may 



