LANDING NETS. 



make a suction joint plus a short outside ' cap ' on the upper 

 ferrule, fitting down over the lower I suppose to make 

 assurance doubly sure in regard to wet- 

 proofedness. 



Quitting now the subject of rods, 

 reels, lints, and hooks the apparatus, 

 that is, destined for hooking and playing 

 a fish the next question is how to land 

 him. 



For all fish of the trout and salmon 

 species up to three or four pounds in 

 weight a net will be found the most 

 convenient and serviceable implement 

 for this purpose the province of the 

 gaff coming in only in the case of larger 

 and heavier fish. I will not here enter 

 into the vexed questions of net or gaff 

 on salmon rivers, although there is no 

 doubt that nets can be made large 

 enough and strong enough to ' bag ' 

 the largest salmon that ever took a fly, 

 and to do all the work of the gaff, and 

 do it effectually, whilst at the same 

 time probably saving the lives of many 

 gravid or unclean fish which ought to 

 be returned to the water saving also, 

 when the fisherman is a conscientious 

 observer of the salmon laws, a con- 

 siderable amount of time and temper. 



An illustration of such a net is 

 appended with the measurements. 

 This net is meant for, and is fit for, 

 heavy work. 



Putting this question aside, however, 

 the use of the landing net, as I have 

 observed, is practically confined to fish SLXTIUX JOINT. 



