156 SEA-FISH. 
picked up and got under control at a moment’s 
notice. Also, strange as it may appear, I would 
advise the use of two hand-lines rather than one. 
Should the angler have the ill luck to hook two good 
fish simultaneously, the very best plan is to give 
two or three furious strokes, by which the boat 
spurts ahead, and the additional resistance may, 
though the odds are against it, keep the second fish 
on the hook whilc the first is being hauled. Inany 
case, however, the second bait trailing astern will 
keep the pollack or mackerel in pursuit while one 
line is aboard. Two items of importance must not 
be lost sight of in this railing solo: the oars must 
be tied to the rowlock, and the lines must be made 
fast in such manner as, while checking the first run 
of the fish, they shall indicate its presence to the 
fisherman. Unless the first precaution, that of 
making fast the sculls, be observed, there is con- 
siderable risk, under the excitement of hooking a 
large fish, of Ictting go the sculls all too suddenly 
and losing one or both, when it would have been 
far cheaper to lose the fish. Where the boat has 
considerable way on, it is of course safe to let the 
sculls swing to the side, the resistance of the water 
keeping them in place; but when she is merely 
creeping through the water, as is often necessary in 
this work, they casily slip into the water, as any 
who doubt may try for themselves. Therefore, it 
behoves the careful man to tie them witha hitch of 
waxed cord. In Italy, where I have at one time or 
other done a good deal of boat-fishing, the oars 
are never fixed in any other way. As regards the 
making fast of the line, there are several ways of 
attaining the desired combination, one of the most 
convenient devices being Hearder's cane spreader, 
