BOAT-FISHING. 153 
survey. A good deal indeed that does not find a 
place in that work is of great use to the amateur, 
but can only be acquired in the course of residence 
at each particular place, and even then only by the 
most careful plumbing and entering up of note- 
books. The best way is to try whether the fish 
are feeding about mid-water, increasing the lead by 
day, decreasing it towards evening. It is not, of 
course, easy to hit off mid-water at once, but, if 
there is no strong tide running, 30 yards of line 
with 2 ozs. of lead should, if the boat is only just 
kept under way, keep the bait somewhere about 30 
feet deep. 
There are three ways of increasing the depth 
at which the bait moves: by adding lead, Aataan 
by letting out more line, and by decreasing ing the 
the speed of the boat. Conversely, there 4¢P*® 
are three ways of bringing the bait nearer to 
the surface, by establishing the reverse of 
these conditions. The tide makes, of course, a 
considerable difference one way or the other, and 
it is therefore usual to minimise this by rowing 
across, instead of with or against it. This has the 
additional advantage of spinning the bait across 
the fish, which feed with their head to the tide. 
Here, then, is the best way of whiffing in strange 
waters: start with thirty yards of line out, two 
ounces of lead, and the pace of a snail; then add 
lead, } oz. at a time, let five or ten yards more out, 
and continue adding lead and letting out line until 
the hook occasionally catches the weed. As soon 
as this is experienced, tie a fragment of white 
cotton firmly round the line, just above the reel, 
which will serve as a warning when the hook is 
going too deep. Should no fish be caught between 
