234 THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



easily to be achieved at practically the cost of the 

 netting itself and of a little time and easy labor, the 

 chief requisite for the frame being a bit of discarded 

 common telegraph-wire. In bending the wire to 

 shape an iron vise is of assistance, likewise pliers, 

 and some hard flat surface, like a piece of iron, to 

 hammer the wire against. 



For a short-handled frame, the whole seventeen 

 inches long, make the handle part about five inches 

 long and have the bow about eight inches at the ex- 

 treme width. Make it somewhat triangular in shape 

 with an almost straight front side. This is a good 

 shape at any time but particularly advantageous for 

 scooping up minnows. To this end also have the net 

 fine-meshed; and make the frame double across the 

 front so that one wire will serve as a guard to pro- 

 tect the lashing-cord against contact with bottom 

 stones. 



This net is light, effective, and it slips easily into 

 the fishing-coat left pocket through the opening at 

 the front edge of the garment. There it is securely 

 carried, entirely out of the way, yet easily accessi- 

 ble when wanted. (By the way, we wonder if the 

 reader is " wise " to those sleeveless fishing " coats," 

 possessing all the advantages of the old-time article 

 but ever so much cooler on a hot day.) If this 

 net is dropped it will sink to the bottom and there 

 is some chance of reclaiming it in running water. 

 Or, for added security, a cord about three feet long 



