The Bass Family 105 



but one that will give good satisfaction, and 

 withal is lighter than a wooden rod, is made of 

 natural male Calcutta bamboo, and is known 

 as a " chum " rod. Rods of eight or eight and 

 one-half feet in length should be made in two 

 or three pieces, or if not exceeding seven and 

 one-half feet may be made of one six-foot piece 

 with a handle of eighteen inches. They should 

 have double bell-mouth guides and funnel top. 

 The more expensive rods should have the 

 guides, or at least the funnel top, lined with 

 agate. 



The reel must be a first-class multiplier, made 

 expressly for surf-fishing, with jewelled or steel 

 bearings, with a capacity of two hundred yards 

 of from twelve- to eigh teen-thread Cuttyhunk line. 

 The hooks should be knobbed Sproat or 

 O'Shaughnessy, Nos. 5-0 to 7-0, and attached 

 to the line by two half-hitches, the loose end 

 turned up and secured by another half-hitch. 

 A long-handled gaff-hook of good steel and 

 very sharp is indispensable. A chum knife 

 and spoon are also necessary, and a woollen 

 thumb-stall will be needed for thumbing the 

 reel, or a piece of leather may be affixed to one of 

 its bars as a brake. 



