Chapt. xm. Tour orders, gentlemen. 183 



fear also of the whole being more than the prescribed 

 two and a half feet in length. 



The otter can be made larger if you like, maintain- 

 ing the same proportions, which are that it should be a- 

 bout three times as long as it is deep, and always sunk 

 with lead so that the water line shall be within an inch 

 of the top. I have one, four feet long, which nearly pulls 

 me into the sea. It was made for fishing broad estuaries 

 for heavy sea-fish, and for fishing the seashore outside 

 the waves on calm days; but I have had very little op- 

 portunity for trying it. Still I have seen what it can do 

 in the lakes in Ireland, and have seen also that Indian 

 sea-fish, the seer for instance, will take a small fish readi- 

 ly enough. I wonder if a porpoise would take it. I hope 

 not, for if he did, it would be "all up with Squeers," you 

 would have caught a tartar. 



The otter can be used whenever you have a good ex- 

 tent of uninterrupted shore or beach to walk along, with- 

 out interposing trees etc.; and it can also be used from 

 the stern of a rowing boat, for as you move on rowing it 

 will move parallel with you ; and if you are very avaricious 

 you can have one on each side of a boat. 



Friends wishing to set themselves up in 

 How to order. t ac ki e h ave come to me to advise them what 

 to order, and to help them how to describe what they want, 

 so that the English tackle-maker may not misunderstand 

 them, and have asked me to give them some idea also 

 of prices ; I wish to sit down similarly by the side of my 

 reader, and help him to indite his order. This may seem 



