96 ANGLING 



with a twisted wire shank about five inches long, 

 having a loop at the end, must be baited with a bright, 

 shining roach or gudgeon, alive or dead, it does not 

 much signify which. The wire must be put down its 

 throat and drawn through at the vent, the hooks being 

 neatly placed on either side the mouth, with the point 

 downwards. This wire must be attached to a strongish 

 line of common twine about sixteen or twenty yards in 

 length. About three or four feet above the bait, the 

 line should pass through the centre of an ordinary-sized 

 bung, a small movable peg being thrust in with it to 

 keep it fast ; this peg should be fastened to the bung 

 with a thin thread of twine, which should pass round 

 the rim of the bung to keep it from splitting. Eight or 

 ten inches farther from the bait, a very small cork tied 

 to the line will prevent it from twisting. These floats 

 are often painted of different colours, which give them 

 a showy appearance in the water. The line thus 

 prepared must be fastened at the other end to a strong 

 peg, six or eight inches long, which must be driven into 

 the ground, on which, when the trimmer is taken up, 

 the line can be wrapped. When the bait is thrown 

 into the water, a few yards of the line should be coiled 

 neatly against the peg, in order to allow the fish to run 

 ofi' with a little more line if necessary. The trimmer is 

 better without shot or weight of any kind. 



Another kind of trimmer, called the "floating 

 trimmer," is also a very killing afiair, and is thus con- 

 structed. A small roll of wood, seven or eight inches 

 long, has a small groove cut round the middle, and a 

 small slit, about half an inch deep, sawn across one of 

 the ends. To the groove in the centre, a line of about 

 fifteen or sixteen yards in length is firmly tied; and 

 when baited as before described, is wound round the 

 roll of wood, with the exception of three or four feet or 

 more above the bait ; it is then drawn through the slit, 

 but not too tightly ; so that when a fish seizes the bait 

 he may instantly release it, and run off the roll without 

 the slightest resistance. Some make these trimmers 

 in a fanciful style, using large round bungs, painted 



