i8 



THE ENGLISH ANGLER IN FLORIDA 



THE FRIENDLY SOCKET. 



No doubt the rush of a tarpon, with 200 yards of line on the 

 reel, if very often repeated, would soon make short work of any 

 ordinary soft metal, but I never suffered at all from not having 



an agate ring. The rod I 



found most in use during 



my last visit was the one 



illustrated, with the butt 



whipped round with thin 



cane as with some of our 



English trout rods. 



It is not custornary to have a large knob at the end of the 



butt, and this must be considered when it is remembered 



that at times an enormous strain is laid upon 



Friendly the personal strength of the angler. The first 



Socket 



tarpon I caught, for example, took me one hour 



and a half to kill in rough water, holding on by sheer force 

 all the time. Hence the use of the friendly socket, which is 

 fixed to a leather belt. It is of course obtainable at the tackle 

 store. This simple contrivance is a real convenience, and 

 should not therefore be omitted in the equipment. Some 

 anglers use thumb-stalls, either thickly knitted or of leather, 

 to protect the fingers. At one time they were considered 



