CH. IV.] CUT-AND-THRUST ROD-SPEAR. 61 



leaving the other half bare. Thrust this bare 

 end into the pith of an elder or withy stick 

 about four feet in length, which you can cut 

 when likely to want it, and, after giving the string 

 two or three turns round the stick, bring it up 

 to your hand, having previously made a loop in the 

 end to hold it by. The act of striking a fish 

 will bring the gaff out of the stick, which you 

 may drop altogether, the line on it being quite 

 sufficient to land him with. 



A rod-spear made on the principle of the 

 annexed drawing, to cut and thrust, may not un- 

 rig. 9- 



Cut-and-thrust Rod-spear. 



frequently be found of service for cutting away 

 twigs or weeds in which your fly has got en- 

 tangled, they being often just too far for the 

 fisherman to reach with the ordinary appliances 

 at hand. Many a good fish has been lost for 

 want of such a thing, and that in the most ag- 

 gravating way possible, when quite exhausted 

 and all but within reach of the net, by the bob- 

 fly getting hung up. 



