254 Fly-rods and Fly-tackle. 



and grasp the trout, in which he will be much aided by 

 a thread-glove with the fingers cut off ; or he can lead 

 the fish towards the bank, and by a sudden but steady 

 increase of force throw him out. 



Any effort to lift or throw the trout out by the rod will 

 probably be followed by disaster. Not that the rod will 

 break, but the 'weight of the fish in air so exceeds that 

 in water, that the impulse given will carry it but a short 

 distance on the shore; and when it strikes the ground it 

 unhooks itself with the first flop, while the angler per- 

 forms like a cat on a stove in the vain endeavor to kick 

 it higher up on the bank. I have seen, nay, I have my- 

 self, lost many good fish in this way. 



If he is to fish from a boat, and no landing-net can be 

 borrowed, let him make a gaff out of a piece of telegraph 

 or other stiff wire, or tie three or four hooks, the largest 

 that can be had, on a stick, and use that for the same 

 purpose. 



Occasionally the screws of a reel show a tendency to 

 work loose, caused by the jar of the click and indifferent 

 fitting. The remedy is simple: withdraw the screw, and 

 insert a thread to the bottom of its hole; enter the screw 

 beside the thread, and about three-quarters of its length; 

 then cut off the projecting end close, and turn the screw 

 down to its head. 



There, I think I have covered all the reparable contin- 

 gencies. 



NOVICE. One last question I would like to ask. Can 

 you suggest a method to repair an angler's morals after 

 he has lost a large fish ? 



ANGLER. That is indeed a heavy blow; and so long as 

 human nature is weak, I fear that under such affliction 

 the original sin, which is the heritage of all, will come 



