"FYSSHE AND FYSSHEYNGE." 121 



"As two strong combatants, of balanced might 

 Force first esay, then practice every sleight, 

 So these contend, a while a well matched pair 

 Till frantic efforts by degrees impair 

 The anthia's strength, who, drained of vital blood. 

 Soon staggers feebly thro' the foaming flood, 

 Then dying, turns his vast, unwieldy bulk 

 Reversed upon the waves, a floating hulk. 



"Towed to his side, with joy Piscator sees 

 The still leviathan. Still on his knees. 

 With arms outstretched, close clasps the gurgling throat, 

 Make one long pull, and hauls him in the boat." 



There is a true piscatorial ring about Oppian's epic, but the ancient tackle was 

 evidently of rude construction. His fishermen used a simple handline, with a squid 

 or jug for bait. A squid is a piece of lead some three inches long, fashioned in the 

 shape of a fish and attached to a hook. It is polished bright and glitters when drawn 

 through the water. They are in use at the present day and not much improved 

 upon the old patterns. 



The ancient fisherman kept his squid in motion until a fish struck it, and then 

 handled his captive after a fashion which would not much enjoy the "ensanguined 

 twine" cutting the fingers to the bone. One capture would be likely to suffice, and 

 they would not be apt to come across another "first-rate day of fishing" for some 

 time. To obviate such distresses the modern angler uses a rod and reel, as well 

 as a rubber thumb-stall or a thick woolen mitten to protect his hand. I have seen 

 a muscalonge or a striped bass make such a swift and impetuous rush that the line 

 would have cut the fingers clean off if it had been held in the hand. I have seen a 

 salmon-reel so hot from friction that the hand could not bear the heat. 



Jointed rods were not known to the ancients, though the present day really 

 the best wooden rods are in one piece. Ferrules being less pliable than wood, impair 

 the flexibility which should be distributed uniformly throughout the length of the 

 rod. The advantage of sectional rods is that they are more portable, though in the 

 cases of the split bamboo, the most artistic and effective rod made, the advantage 

 of strength and flexibility are added from the very nature and plan of their con- 

 struction. A split bamboo is ten- fold stronger and more pliable than the natural 

 bamboo of which it is made. Calcutta bamboo is the best. The male canes only 

 are used. They have less shoots. 



The chief and primary object in fishing is to catch fish to secure the object 

 fished for. Therefore it would seem at first sight that the biggest rod, the thickest 

 line and the strongest hook fulfill the condition of success. The first impulse is 

 to lift the fish bodily out of the water by main strength and run no risk by fooling 

 with him. The first remark made of fly-rod by a tyro is that it won't hold any- 

 thing. This is true. Its uses are altogether different. The fact is one cannot catch 

 any but the grossest and most stupid fish with clumsy tackle. Anglers don't fish 

 in tanks with tame fish. Wild fish are shy, so the rod is made light and flexible 

 to reach distant localities with a long line. It is rigged so as 10 fish the surface 

 where groveling fish never come. Gross fish, like dregs, hug the bottom. The finer 

 variety feed near the top. It is because no single rod can do good, all-around 

 service that trunk rods and combination rods are rejected by expert anglers, just 

 as guns of different caliber, size and weight of ammunition are essential for dif- 

 ferent kinds of game. 



The passion for angling is so strong that ardent anglers get to iove the most 

 repulsive creatures from their very association. They will impale bettles, thread 



