172 SEA-FISH. 
no need, as with the anchor, to pitch it ahead. It 
must be borne in mind, however, that, even among 
the rocks, the holding power of a stone is far less 
than that of an anchor, and that for craft of any size 
a very heavy stone may be necessary, especially in 
any but the calmest of water; indeed, on the sands 
it is rarely efficient. The rope may be bent on 
with a clove hitch; but there are some forms of 
stone, those for example that taper abruptly to- 
wards one or both ends, in which this knot is not 
the best. The great aim of any knot used for this 
purpose should be that it is only pulled the tighter 
by every additional strain. . 
There is rarely room enough in a small boat for 
a spare anchor or stone, and in the majority of 
cases the loss of the only one aboard is the 
beginning of the end, there being nothing for it 
but to go ashore. Two alternatives, however, 
sometimes remain ; it is often possible to bring up 
on some lobster-pots, mooring the boat to the 
largest bundle of corks, taking care of course to 
disarrange the pot-line as little as possible; or, on 
the other hand, it is occasionally possible to make 
a very good bag drifting over the different grounds. 
Indeed, there are cases in which, where the tide 
runs so strongly that the lead will not hold the 
bottom, something is gained by hauling in the 
stone and letting the boat drift with the tide, 
which removes a great part of the drift from the 
line, and enables the angler to fish on the bottom. 
Compared, however, with the accurate taking of 
bearings as described in the following paragraph, 
this drifting is at the best but chance work, and 
any success that may attend it should be regarded 
in the light of the exception rather than the rule. 
