62 . ROD AND RIVER 



temps waxed silk will be found, if properly applied 

 and well waxed, equal to the occasion. But it is 

 always as well to carry two or more sizes of silk, 

 from coarse to the finest procurable, and plenty 

 of each, and the pale-yellow will ever be found 

 the strongest. Pearsall's gossamer and coarser 

 silks are among the best for fishing purposes 



It is wonderful what one can do by means of a 

 little waxed-silk, a pin, a knife, a file, and a little 

 coil of fine copper-wire, in the way of repairing 

 damages when fishing, and they are all so easily 

 carried that there is no excuse for the fisherman 

 ever being without them. I myself carry a small 

 leathern case which contains a few such necessaries, 

 and I cannot recount the times I have had occa- 

 sion to congratulate myself on having this with 

 me. Accidents will happen even to the most 

 careful person ; but with the means of repair at 

 hand one can rise superior to them. 



I would add that a small pair of strong pliers, 

 with cutting-sides, may be most useful, for it does 

 at times happen that a hook may catch the fisher- 

 man and go into the flesh beyond the barb. The 

 best way to extract it, if not too deeply lodged, 

 is to cut off the gut, feathers, etc., and to carefully 

 clean the shank of the hook ; then, with the pliers 

 or fingers, force the barb still further into the flesh, 

 but turning the point so as to again come out 

 through the skin. If the hook is an eyed one, 



