78 ROD AND RIVER 



to meet this requirement, but I would advise 

 the use of those with the least possible amount 

 of mechanism as being less likely to get out of 

 order. 



As regards the shape of the actual net itself, 

 it should be deep, and fuller at the bottom than 

 at the top, so as to prevent a fish jumping out 

 after it has been netted, a by no means impossible 

 or unusual thing when a net is shallow and small. 

 The material used for the netting should be fine 

 and very hard, and dressed with oil like a line ; 

 if this is not clone the flies are certain to catch 

 in the strands of cord at each and every possible 

 opportunity, and cause the very greatest annoy- 

 ance and trouble ; added to which, unless the net 

 is perfectly waterproof, after it has been used 

 it becomes a wet, flabby, hanging mess, capable 

 of wetting one's clothes very considerably. The 

 cord also shrinks up, and things are, generally 

 speaking, altogether uncomfortable. Such nets, 

 too, wear but badly, and it is therefore more 

 economical, as well as more comfortable, to pay 

 the higher price for material which is water- 

 proof. The mesh need not be as small as is 

 frequently the case ; the weight is doubled in 

 the excessively small mesh, and no one is desirous 

 of catching fish the size of sardines. 



The use of fishing-baskets is now a thing of 

 the past. A basket is doubtless a very picturesque- 



