THE OCEAN FISHING ROD 321 



Howell says, decide this by using a spring balance in the 

 manner he has directed, or by fastening a weight of 200 Ibs. on 

 to the ends of the ropes by which the pole is sustained. He 

 shifts the pole until he finds the 2oo-lb. weight will just raise 

 up the rod and no more. The pole is then marked where it 

 rests on the edge of the bulwark or rail, so that it can always 

 be placed in the same position without further reference to 

 spring balance or weight. It should be particularly noted that 

 the fishing line is practically a continuation of the ropes which 

 support the pole, so that the fish which is hooked simply hauls 

 up the pole a little. The ropes which support the pole (boom) 

 are the topping lifts, and, as I have explained, the rope which 

 keeps the pole from swinging towards the stern is the foreguy. 



I trust the foregoing explanation will suffice even for lands- 

 men. I have made it perhaps unduly elaborate, finding that 

 most people have much difficulty in understanding the con- 

 struction of this clever invention. 



I may here gratefully acknowledge much kind assistance 

 given me with this part of the subject by Captain Howell, who 

 thus expresses himself on ocean fishing : 



There is nothing expensive about the gear, and the whole thing 

 is very simple when you understand how to rig it up. It does 

 seem a pity that so many men should go on ploughing the ocean 

 year after year under the impression that it is quite impossible 

 to catch fish from a steamer under way. Apart from the sport 

 itself, nothing can be more welcome to crew and passengers than 

 fresh fish put on the table in hot weather. I know my own passen- 

 gers have often been able to eat fresh fish when they could not 

 look at meat in the tropics. 



It has occurred to me that possibly an arrangement of india- 

 rubber could be invented to bear the first jerk of the fish ; such 

 a tackle, for instance, as that occasionally used in connection 

 with the main sheet of a cutter yacht. But one object of the 



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