484 GAFFING FISH. 



the left hand, the butt resting against the body, and 

 pass the gaff Binder the fish well below if there is 

 water, and well beyond him, the point being towards 

 the left and partly turned down, the hand being 

 " knuckles up. " When about to strike, turn the fingers 

 up. This at once brings the point of the gaff into the 

 right position, and a sharp draw towards oneself secures 

 the fish. By adopting this course a fish will rarely be 

 lost. A fish cannot see a gaff beneath him as he can 

 one held over him. Lastly, allow no man to use the 

 gaff for you, unless you know he can be depended 

 upon to do it right. 



Much more might easily be added on Indian and 

 other sorts of fishing, were it desirable . to extend this 

 branch of our subject; but in a work of this kind, prac- 

 tical details with respect to tackle and other items of a 

 traveller's fishing outfit are of more importance than 

 mere records of successful days' sport by individual 

 fishermen. 



The selection of fishing tackle for a traveller's outfit 

 involves a good deal of consideration, as what he ought 

 to take will of course depend very much upon circum- 

 stances. Tackle that has to be carried about for any 

 length of time in a manufactured state, as all experience 

 shows, is apt to prove unreliable when exposed to the 

 strain of a heavy fish. 



In dry hot climates especially, the tackle usually sold 

 in the English fishing tackle shops soon becomes 

 worthless, owing to the wax of the whippings and 

 tyings becoming dried up, and the hooks etc. drawing. 



Moreover, with all tradesmen who have wares got 

 up for sale, the main object is to get them to look 

 neat and attractive to the public eye; and as a rule, 



