330 FISHES AND FISHING 



and stouter than lines used with rods ; also the use of 

 plaited lines and swivels is not so necessary. When 

 spinning with a hand-line, it is often more convenient 

 to use several small leads than one large one (see 

 Fig. 209). Hemp lines, 40 fathoms long, should cost 

 from about 20s. to 50s. per dozen, according to weight. 



Long lines, spillers, or bolters, are suitable for use in 

 water down to 500 fathoms or more. They possess 

 two great advantages : that they can be used on ground 

 too patchy for trawling, and that they can be left to 

 themselves while the vessel setting them is otherwise 

 occupied ; also one very serious disadvantage — that 

 they require a great deal of bait. 



The long line as ordinarily used by English fishermen 

 for commercial purposes is 40 fathoms in length, and 

 carries hooks on snoods of from 3 to 5 feet long, fastened 

 on to the line at intervals of ij to 2 fathoms. Any 

 number of such lines up to twenty dozen (which is the 

 full outfit of a modern line-fishing vessel) are fastened 

 together end to end, and fished in one string. The 

 ends of the string are made fast to anchors or weights 

 and their positions marked by buoys ; and, in the case 

 of a long string, further anchors are added at the end 

 of every sixteen lines, and their positions also marked 

 by smaller buoys. Before setting, the lines must be 

 carefully coiled in boxes or shallow baskets (each 

 ordinarily holding eight lines), and the hooks baited 

 and so arranged as to run out smoothly without fouling. 

 Long lines should always be shot across a tide, and, 

 where possible, hauled at slack water. No one who 

 has not had considerable experience of long lines and 

 their ways should ever attempt to set or haul them 

 out of anything but a rowing boat ; and it is well to 

 remember that if lines are set at low water or on a rising 

 tide sufficient slack should be allowed on the buoy lines 



