THE BERTHON FOLDING GAFF 303 



my request and suggestion, though no fisherman 

 himself, he succeeded in producing this gaff, 

 which is the very best thing of the kind as yet 

 invented, for it combines length, strength, porta- 

 bility, and, like all good inventions, extreme sim- 

 plicity. Whether these gaffs are still procurable 

 I do not know, but should any of my readers 

 desire to obtain information respecting them, Mr. 

 Berthon would, I am sure, very readily respond 

 to any communication addressed to him at the 

 Berthon Boat Works, Romsey, for I regret to hear 

 that he is about to relinquish the living which he 

 has held for so many years, and where he has 

 been so universally and justly beloved. I cannot 

 forbear paying this tribute of respect to one 

 whose friendship I so much value, and whose 

 well-known talents I so much admire. 



But one more article of equipment necessary to 

 the salmon fisherman remains to be noticed, viz., 

 a receptacle of some description in which to carry 

 flies. A salmon-fly-book is very useful to keep 

 a stock of flies in, but it is a somewhat cumbrous 

 affair, and either fills an ordinary coat-pocket to 

 bursting or necessitates the use of a bag. Whether 

 carried about or not, it is an unwise plan to return 

 salmon-flies to a book before they are dried ; to do 

 so is very apt to spoil both book and flies. A 

 friend of mine made me a present of a most excel- 

 lent little arrangement for carrying flies and casts, 



