FLOAT FISHING— TACKLE. 219 



This fine wire is, however, more suitable for fine tackle and 

 very light fishing than for floats requiring to be heavily leaded. 

 The piece of lead coil represented is about equal to two No. 4 

 shot, and would cock a porcupine quill float about half as 

 long again as No. 4. For very light tackle it has 

 however, I think, several advantages, one of which 

 is that there is no danger of nipping the line, as 

 is the case with shot which have been squeezed 

 tightly on. All that is necessary to coil the wire 

 is to lay a pin parallel with the gut, twisting the 

 wire round both ; and then, after withdrawing the 

 pin tightening the coils as much as requisite by 

 twisting them with the finger and thumb. 



To return : after the float naturally comes 



THE PLUMMET, 



LEAD-WIRE 

 . FOR WEIGHT- 



which IS essential to ascertam the depth of the ing float- 

 water and the distance from the bottom (or on the ^"^^^■ 

 bottom, as the case may be) at which it is desired that the bait 

 should travel. The best of the old-fashioned plummets is 

 simply a sheet of soft lead wound round the line above the 

 hook in the position shown in the engraving (fig. i). An im- 

 provement upon it was, however, exhibited last year by Mr. 

 Thomas Hines, of Norwich. The action of it will be under- 



also sent me samples of a very fine soft copper wire for lapping over pike tackle, 

 finishing off top ring fastenings, &c., and other analogous purposes. They have 

 been for many years manufacturing a superfine ' thrown silk, ' as contrasted with 

 ' floss ' silk, on the one hand and sewing silk on the other, for whipping hooks, 

 flies, &c. An immense comfort will be found in tackle-making, from the use of 

 this silk, which, though exceedingly fine is strong enough to admit of consider- 

 able strain without breaking. The finest and purest silk of all, however, is that 

 used by the gold twist makers of Little Britain, London, in their manufacture 

 of gold lace for buttons, uniforms, &c. For ' waxing ' this and other kinds of 

 silk, a very small piece of cobblers' wax about as big as a No. i shot and rolled 

 between the finger and thumb will be found a great convenience. When used in 

 larger lumps it is difficult, especially in cold weather, to keep it at the necessary 

 temperature. 



