18 LANDING NET. 



that of a drawing-room hearth broom, which folds 

 up into so short a length as to lie conveniently 

 in the coat pocket. Others again adopt the plan 

 of having the gaff stick in two or three pieces, 

 each of about eighteen inches, to screw together, 

 very similar to a gun cleaning-stick. These 

 pieces are carried, detached, in pockets made for 

 the purpose, inside the left front of the fishing- 

 jacket. You have always plenty of time between 

 hooking and landing a fish to put it together, 

 and have the convenience of four and a half feet in 

 length, which in some places is almost absolutely 

 requisite. Let me here caution you, unless the 

 hook also revolves on a hinge so as to shut up, to 

 carry a cork on its point, or you may, perchance, 

 gaff an odd fish — yourself to wit ! 



Landing Net. — For trout fishing, to screw 

 into the same handle, a landing net is requisite 

 about fifteen to eighteen inches diameter; and it 

 is very convenient to have its hoop hinged so as 

 to fold for the pocket. Or, I have found it 

 extremely handy, and far preferable for trout 

 streams, the banks of which are low, to make one 

 thus ; take a stout cane, of about six feet in length, 

 and along the middle of its length lap tightly a split 

 piece of the same, thinned off at its ends ; then 

 bend and bind together the two ends of the whole 

 length, so that it assumes the form of a pear or 

 balloon ; these ends form a short handle, which 



