The Sea-Fisherman

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1875 edition. Excerpt: ... the tail. Dead baits are not of much account generally in drift-line fishing: their description under 'Whiffing' will suffice. HORSE-HAIR LINES, AND HOW TO MAKE THEM. These lines with pipe-leads at intervals of 12 feet are the best that can be used for Pollack-fishing, Mackerel, Bass, or Bream, when moored, and may also be used when whiffing under oars, but not under sail, as, being valuable lines, the risk of hooking the bottom and consequent breakage is too great. They are more used in the Channel Islands than any other locality I have visited, but I have met with them at Portsmouth, they are wellknown at Weymouth, and a variety with the lead at the end is used at Plymouth, and another with hemp at the upper end in the Isle of Man; there are, however, very large districts where they are quite unknown or unused, and here they might be introduced with great advantage. The following is the method of manufacture. You must provide yourself with a small jack or twistingengine, also two circular pieces of lead, one of 2 lbs. weight for hair, and another of 1 lb. weight for gut, each with a wire hook in the centre. (See the cut.) Procure a good long tail (of a horse, not of a mare for obvious reasons), wash and dry it in the open air, and cut a few inches off the end, as it is usually rotten from dirt, &c; then tie the hair round with twine at the root, in the middle, and at eight inches from the tail end, place it on a table before you with a heavy book on it or a piece of board, the tail end towards you, and drawing out the longest hairs as they present themselves to the number of twelve or fourteen, according to the thickness of the hair, whether it be coarse or fine, attach three twelves or three fourteens, as the case may be, to the hooks...