NOTES. 243 



cork is automatically fixed on the line as long as the 

 strain is kept up ; it cannot go below the surface, and it 

 cannot get above it, and in winding in the cork stops at 

 the place fixed by the depth until the strain is relaxed, 

 when it will drop towards the plummet. The cork 

 will not run on a gut cast, as the knots catch at the angle 

 of the V, prS^irting the cork from rising properly. In 

 a great pool, where the depth is difficult to judge, I have 

 found this cork of much use to take different soundings, 

 finding out with ease where the ledges of gravel lie. I 

 believe this idea could be well worked out for roach- 

 floats, as a small peg in the lower tube would fix the 

 float on the hne. In its present state the cork is not 

 much good for actual angling, but it finds depths auto- 

 matically and quickly. 



Stewart tackle is used for worm-baiting. Three hooks 

 are whipped on alternate sides of a gut strand, gj^^^^j 

 their distance apart being regulated by the size tackle 

 of the worm to be used. Hook the worm in 

 the head, middle, and tail, without attempting to thread 

 it on the hooks. When fish are feeding shyly, this 

 tackle is effective, and I have heard it commended for 

 roach-fishing with a lobworm. 



The rypeck is a pole, heavily shod with iron, that 

 fixes the punt in the stream, two being 

 usually employed, one at each end of the punt. '^^^. 

 It is sometimes no easy task to fix a rypeck in Jf P"^ ' 

 the bed of the river, it will go down easily for a 01 ' 

 certain distance, but to drive it in deep enough ryepeck 

 to hold the punt the pole requires " working." 

 Drive it down as far as possible, then grasp the pole 

 firmly and work the top of the pole in a circular direc- 

 tion ; this works out a hole for the rypeck-iron, and the 

 shaft can then be driven further down. Keepmg a foot- 

 hold in the punt is the most difficult part of the opera- 

 tion. In swift streams the rypeck must be set at a con- 

 siderable angle against the stream, or the pressure from 

 the punt may shift it. 



This throw is very useful for short distances, when 

 there is little weight to carry the line out. From the centre 



R 2 



