A SEASIDE YARN. 41 
line on it, should be used. To this append a six- 
foot trace of strong twisted gut, armed with two 
No. 3 Limerick trout-hooks, after the manner of a 
common paternoster ; with a sinker or lead at the 
end, light enough to be carried by the run of the tide 
well under the hulk, but of sufficient weight to keep 
your line tight. 
Bait with a small fish, such as a sand-launce, smelt, 
or sprat, or in lieu of these a strip of cuttle-fish; a 
couple of large mud-worms, which will be found 
figured in my little work, Sea-Fish, and how to 
catch them; or a strong strip of pilchard gut, 
hooked by the hard end. These tempting morsels 
should then be allowed to sink away, quietly carried 
by the run down which you are fishing until well 
among the bass, then by a series of short “lifts” bring 
your bait back again; when, if fortune favours, and 
the fish prove a large one, some little care and ma- 
nagement will be needed. Bear. well in mind that 
fish are not “ hosses,” or you will come to grief to a 
certainty. Keep the top of your rod well up, and 
don’t give an inch of line unless it is taken. A wide 
strong landing-net is far better than a gaff for this 
kind of sport, and it should be always at hand. 
Large polluck, and a variety of other fish, are taken 
when fishing in this way ; and here perhaps a few 
words touching the question of the superiority of fine 
over coarse tackle may not come amiss before pro- 
