THE OCEAN FISHING ROD 323 



hooks should be long in the shank, and fitted with an eye and 

 swivel. 



Many ocean fishers favour some such ' fly ' as that de- 

 scribed by Captain Howell, the size being chosen according 

 to the weather and fish. Another excellent bait is a strip 

 of parchment six or seven inches long, cut half an inch 

 wide, one end being tightly fastened to the head of the 

 hook, about a quarter of its length projecting beyond the bend. 

 Parchment is a capital substance for the purpose ; very much 

 akin to sole-skin, it gets soft and gelatinous after being used, 

 and being tough will last for several days. Pork-skin is a 

 favourite bait (see p. 91). It should be cut with a swallow tail. 



Another essential is a very long handled gaff, for many a 

 fish is lost in lifting it over the side. The gaff is for fish of 

 medium size, and up to about sixty pounds. If much larger than 

 this a single hook will tear away, unless it can be fixed just 

 under the gills of the fish. Better is a very large double gaff, 

 the hooks set rather close together. If the fish are very large, 

 or if a gaff is wanting, they may be noosed after the fashion in 

 which the Red Sea coryphene was treated at the opening of 

 the chapter. But it is almost impossible to use a running 

 bowline when going at any speed, say over seven knots, for 

 the fish is very apt to spin round, causing the noose to foul 

 the fishing line. With a gaff the fish are secured more speedily 

 and surely. 



The following measurements for a double-hook gaff are 

 useful : Shank twelve inches long, flattened out to lie closely 

 against the bamboo pole to which it is whipped. Points of 

 hook three and a half inches apart, and distant from the shank 

 three inches. 



The dolphin's favourite food seems to be the curious, so 

 called, flying fish, and it cannot be doubted that the closer these 

 eccentric creatures can be imitated, the more fish will be caught. 



