The cross-stick (of iron wire, whale-bone, etc.) attached to a deep-sea fishing-line a short distance from the sinker, from which the short lines bearing the hooks are hung.
1615. E. S., Britain’s Buss, in Arb., Garner, III. 642. Cod fishing…. A chopstick is an iron about the bigness of a curtain rod, and a yard long; and, upon this iron, is a hollow pipe of lead, eight or nine inches long.
1682. J. Collins, Salt & Fishery, 87. A Fisherman hath a Line of 90 fathom length or more, with a Lead at the end of it called a deep Sea-Lead, of about 6 or 7 pound weight to sink it, above which is a cross-Stick called a chop-Stick, with two Lines and hooks at them with baites.
187[?]. Buckland, in Kent. Gloss. (E. D. S., 1887), Two old umbrella iron ribs make capital chop-sticks.
1880. Antrim & Down Gloss. (E. D. S.), Chop-stick, a small bit of whalebone attached to a sea fishing line to keep the snood and hook clear of the sinker.
1881. St. James’ Budget, 5 Aug., 12/1. The Kentish rig—which is the familiar chopstick with the two arms bent to an angle of 60° … has a detachable lead in the middle.
