14 THE FISHING-ROD; 



THE GAFF-HOOK 



Is a substitute for the landing-net. It is much 

 used in salmon fishing and for landing fish 

 which are too large to be contained in the 

 landing-net. Andjit is also of advantage where 

 the nature of the bank or brink of the water is 

 such, that the landing-net cannot properly be 

 used. 



THE CLEARING-RING AND DRAG-HOOK. 



THESE are used for clearing the line and hook 

 when accidentally caught or entangled among 

 weeds, or hung on piles, or other obstructions. 

 To the clearing -ring are attached ten or twenty 

 yards of strong cord or line. The clearing-ring 

 weighs about six or eight ounces ; it opens with 

 a joint or snap, and may thus be put upon the 

 line and immediately dropped down to the spot 

 where the entanglement rests : then, by pulling 

 it, the line may sometimes be drawn away without 

 loss of hook : whereas in absence of the clearing- 

 line or drag-hook, perhaps the float and three 

 or four yards of valuable line would have been 

 lost. Every angler and fly-fisher should always 



