42 THE ART OF FISHING 



and of about the same length as the rod it should be of a uniform 

 thickness and its strength tested before using. 



FLOATS are usually procured with other tackle, but some prefer 

 making their own. In this case a fine grained cork is perforated by 

 using a small red-hot iron, and through this aperture is put a quill 

 that exactly fits, then the cork should be cut into the shape of a 

 pear, and ground smooth with pumice-stone. If durability and 

 gayety be desired, a coat of varnish applied over some bright colored 

 paint will then be in order. A cork float should swim perpendicu 

 larly in the water, so that it may betray the slightest nibble, and 

 should be carefully poised by fastening a few shot on the line. 



A HEEL is a very useful assistant to the angler, as it enables him to 

 lengthen or shorten his line rapidly, thereby allowing him to play 

 his fish with the greatest ease and certainty. It must be kept per- 

 fectly clean and well oiled. 



When fastening the hooks on your lines, use strong, but fine silk 

 and if you can get it near the color of your bait, so much the better; 

 wax the silk thoroughly with shoemakers' wax, and wrap it four or 

 five times around the body of the hook, then place the gut or hair 

 on the inside of your hook, and continue winding the silk tightly 

 round till you have wrapped it about three parts down the hook 

 Whipping is finished off by slipping the end of the silk through the 

 last circle and drawing it tight Knotting, by laying two pieces of 

 gut or hair together, one overlapping the other some three inches or 

 so, then holding one end in the left hand, while forming a simple 

 slip knot on it; then turning the other end to the right, and doing 

 the same, after that drawing the two together, which makes the 

 knot complete. No direct pull will ever loosen this water-knot, 

 though it can be undone easily. 



The common angleworm is a universal bait for fresh water 

 angling They grow almost everywhere except in sandy soils. The 

 common white grub is also used successfully in trout fishing. They 

 are found in fresh-ploughed earth and under old stumps, decaying 

 foliage, etc. Trout or salmon spawn will attract trout quicker than 

 any other possible bait, but it is not always to be had. Grasshoppers, 

 caterpillars, flies, locusts, beetles, etc., are also good for trout. The 

 minnow and other small fish are very popular live baits The frog 

 is an excellent bait for pickerel They are sometimes used whole, 

 but when the hind legs are used they should be skinned The crab 

 and also the clam is often used in northern waters 



