i8 ANGLING 



a small bullet, which is usually allowed to touch the 

 bottom. The whole is attached to the winch-line by a 

 small swivel. 



China twist is useful for a running line for bottom- 

 fishing. Bottom lines vary from the single hair for 

 roach, to the heavy and strong hair-lines for perch. 



FISH-HOOKS 



There are two celebrated localities where the best 

 hooks are manufactured, Redditch and Limerick; and 

 the majority of hooks assume the name of these 

 respective places. 



Good hooks are of essential importance to the angler, 

 and we would most earnestly recommend all our country- 

 men who visit the Continent for the purpose of fishing, 

 to provide themselves amply in England with these 

 necessary articles, of all sorts and sizes. 



There is some difference of opinion among experienced 

 anglers as to hooks — some liking the bent ones, some 

 the straight. Fancy, or custom, has had a good deal 

 to do with the judgments in such conflicting determina- 

 tions. We wish not to speak dogmatically on the 

 subject, but only to crave the liberty of stating that we 

 prefer the straight hook, both for flies and for bait, to 

 the bent ones. In fly-fishing we have always found, or 

 at least fancied we found, that we lost more fish by the 

 crooked than the straight hooks; and in reference to 

 bait, the bent part of a hook generally, if the bait be 

 worm, breaks through and seriously damages it. This is 

 the result of our own experience, and we state it for the 

 guidance and consideration of others. 



FISHING-FLOATS 



Floats are necessary things in certain kinds of angling, 

 and in some particular kinds of water; but they are, 

 nevertheless, as all our best brethren of the craft will 

 admit, necessary evils. We feel the operation of a 

 prejudice when we see them in use. They bring to our 



