186 SEA-FISH. 
even on a hand-line, fairly attractive. The pro- 
cedure is simple, given fresh bait and strong tackle. 
The hook is passed two or three times through the 
bait, and is lowered with as little disturbance as 
possible. If the hook is a fathom below the lead, 
let the latter just touch the bottom, and draw in 
about 5 ft. of line, so that the bait hangs un- 
disturbed on the rocks, hitching the line round the 
rowlocks. Leave about three fathoms of slack 
coiled in the boat; after which make fast to the 
thwart. The line is thus made doubly fast; the 
fisherman then grasps it very lightly just over 
the side, and without moving the bait in the 
slightest, as conger are easily alarmed. The bite 
comes in the form of a picking at the bait, the 
largest fish often picking quite lightly ; this, 
when followed up by a steady pull, must be 
answered with a sharp strike; and, as soon as 
the fish is fairly hooked, the line is released with a 
turn from the rowlock, and the fisherman hauls his 
eel as soon as the circumstances of the case allow. 
With really reliable tackle, no quarter need be 
given, unconditional surrender being insisted upon 
at once, before the fish has got its shoulder to the 
line and learnt its own strength. It is wonderful 
how effective is bluffing with these big fish ; on the 
rod, it is the correct thing to give law and let the 
fish have a run for its life; but with the conger on 
a hand-line, no such etiquette is observed, and the 
cel is smuggled over the gunwale before it quite 
realises the situation. A sharp tap with the blud- 
geon, already advocated, or with any other handy 
weapon, on the snout (or, better still, on the vent, 
“where its life lics,” as the fishermen say), reduces 
the fish to order, when the hook can be freed with 
