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almost to the bend of the hook: the colour of the arming silk should be as near that of the baits used as may be, and its size be regulated by the thickness of the wire, hair, or gut, to which it is joined. In whipping on a hook, it is to be held in the left hand, and the silk whipped down to within four turns of its bend; the shank is then to be taken between the fore finger and thumb of the left hand, and the end of the silk close to it, holding them both tight, and leaving the ends of the silk to hang down; the other part of the silk is then to be drawn into a large loop, and with the right hand, turning backwards, continue the whipping for four turns, and draw the end of the silk, which has hung down under the left thumb, close, and cut it off.

Tackle.

THE Angler will take care, when he means to fish at bottom, to have with him different kinds of Lines neatly coiled up, strong single hairs, Hooks untied of divers sorts, and also tied to bottom links of coarse and fine gimp, of twisted and single silkworm gut, of hogs bristles, and. of white and sorrel hair; likewise to be provided with Cork and quill floats and spare caps. Shot split, and small pistol bullets to poise the floats; Shoemakers wax in a piece of leather; (if the Wax be too stiff, temper it with Tallow ;) Silk of various sizes and colours ;— recollecting that hooks for worm-fishing and red paste are usually tied on with scarlet; and those for Gentles, Yellow paste, and Grubs, with straw-coloured

silk;-a Plummet to ascertain the depth of the water when a float is used; a clearing Ring to disentangle the hook, which is used by running it along and over the top of the rod, and gradually down the line, (holding it by a strong twine, long enough for any such purpose,) to where the hook is fast, if at a Stump or other immoveable substance; but if it be hung to Weeds, let the ring get below the hook, then pull the twine, and the ring will break the weeds, and thus save both line and hook: in the former case, if it does not release the hook, it will enable the line to be broken near to it, and prevent the line from being strained in any other part. A sharp pen-knife, a pair of scissars, a small whetstone, about two inches long and a quarter of an inch square, are indispensable. A landing-net, the iron hoop made with joints, and a socket to contain a handle for it; some use a large hook that screws into a long staff, which not only secures the taking a large fish out of the water, but also is a useful implement in disengaging the line from Weeds, or boughs of trees. A disgorger, to put down the throat of a fish when he has swallowed the hook, until it is touched, when by pulling the line gently, at the same time that the instrument presses down the hook, it will be freed. These may be made of a piece of split Cane, five or six inches long, and a quarter of an inch wide, with a notch at each end. Baits should be carried, the gentles, pastes, and natural flies, in tin boxes; for the latter, with holes punched in the top to admit air. He will likewise not be without Worms of different sorts in canvas

and woollen bags, and a larger one for malt or other ground-bait: to hold the baits it is far better to have something like a fish-woman's apron, with three or four partitions, than to dangle the gentle-case or worm-bags from a button. It may be thus made: a piece of coarse cloth, three quarters in length and breadth, doubled to within three inches at one side; which three inches must be doubled back again, and sewed all along close to the first doubling to receive a belt; the great doubling at each side is then to be sewed up, so that the foreside may allow room for the hand to go easily into the pockets, which will be ten inches deep, and when stitched in three places will leave four divisions, each four inches broad. The Fish-basket, Pannier, or Creel, as they are made very neat and light in Wicker-work, should be large enough to admit the fish to lie at full length; they are thus better preserved both in appearance and for. use, than when bent and crushed together; some persons carry their pannier at their back, others: under the left arm, having the side nearest them rather hollowed: in these baskets are sometimes a partition at the top, for holding night lines, &c.

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For the keeping and carrying of lines, links, single hairs, &c. a Case may be made with a piece of Parchment or vellum, seven inches by ten; on the longer sides set off four inches, and then fold it crosswise, so as to leave a flap of two inches. Eight or ten pieces of parchment, seven inches by four, are then to be put into the Vellum or parchment first mentioned, to be folded, and the ends sewed up; the flap may be cut rounding, and folded down like a

pocket-book; the ends and flap being bound with red tape, will strengthen it. By having several of these cases they may be filled with lines, &c. proper for every kind of fishing, and in each a disgorger should be always put.

Some persons have two books with divisions, one holding fine tackle, for Trout, Perch, Roach, Dace, Bream, Gudgeons; the other containing coarse, for Pike, Barbel, Chub, Eels, &c. A very neat and experienced Angler has recommended the following a piece of fine black calf leather, seventeen inches long and seven broad, to be so doubled that the two ends may be about an inch from each other; this to be sewed nicely at both sides, but the ends to be left open. Into each of the two sides six par-. titions of fine parchment are to be neatly stitched to the bottom of the pockets. One side of this book is meant to hold Fly, the other Bait-tackle, and to be thus furnished: in the partition next the outside. two strong lines of twelve hairs at top, and six at bottom, with neat loops of not more than three quarters of an inch. To lengthen these lines two links of five hairs at one end, and four at the other, and about four feet in length: in the same partition two thin square parchment covers, open on one side, contain links, about a yard and a half long; some with one, others with two, flies at them, to change at pleasure with those on the line; and in two more cases a dozen or eighteen flies dressed to silk-worm gut, or to three or four hairs. These four cases, two of which are the length of the partition,

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with the two lines and links, compose the strong fly tackle.

In the next partition the same number of lines and links, only the lines to have but three hairs at the bottom, although as big at the top; these have links and flies suitable to them, upon very fine gut and two strong hairs, and are more numerous as being in greater use. In the third division, two lines, ten at top, and two hairs at bottom, but no links to lengthen them. All the links to be single hairs, with two or three hooks each; about a dozen of these in one case, a case of flies dubbed, and another of hackles of a woodcock's wing, &c.

In the fourth partition, papers folded nearly its length, one containing feathers from the upper side of a woodcock's wing near the joint; the same from a Moorpout; another, cock's hackle, stripped ready for use; with Lapwing Plover toppings, Ostrich feathers of several colours, and a few peacock's: a third paper has feathers, for wings, from the Drake, Starling, Land-rail, and other birds.

In the fifth, folded papers, with all sorts of dubbings; in one properly noted, mixed ready for several flies, with a feather or two fit for wings: amongst the dubbings, these should always find a place, viz. the soft down from a young Hedge-hog's belly, black Rabbit, the finest of Swines down, dyed of several colours; Camels and Bears hair.

In the sixth, coils of single hairs, fine Indian grass, silk-worm gut, &c. Silks ready waxed, wrapped round a card; and in an oiled case hooks of several sizes

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