float n
   1 A lead weight forming part of a hook, used when fishing with a hand-line for cod near the surface of the water; DAPPER, FLICKER.
   1937 Seafisheries of Nfld 31 The Float ... is an ordinary straight or twisted hook, to which the bait is applied and which is at the end of the fishing line. T 272/3-66 [You] catch 'em on floats—some people calls 'em flickers, some more calls 'em dampers. That's a little thing made about that long an' a hook into it. You just put the caplin onto that and throw 'em out an' the fish take hold to it.
   2 Comb float line: hand-line used in fishing with a weighted hook.
   [1856] 1975 WHITELEY 148 [refers] to fishing with a 'flicker'—that is, a single hook around which a small amount of lead has been run—this type of fishing hook is only used when the fish are on the surface —schooling —sometimes bait was used—sometimes not... The method of fishing was to hold about a fathom of line in one hand and whirl the hook at the end of the line around one's head and then let go—the line would snake 20 or 30 feet—and then the hook would be hauled in—surface fishing, the hook would not sink very far down in the water.

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