LANDING TOOLS ; HOW TO USE THEM 165 



the hoop is sufficiently strong in the throat and that 

 the net itself is well made. Personally, I like the 

 square bottom net, but after all, that is not a matter 

 of supreme importance'. I am totally out of conceit 

 with the net provided with a rubber sling, the 

 memory of several welts and bumps serving to 

 emphasize my dislike. I have never found the sling 

 net where I wanted it, though perhaps it is because I 

 have never happened upon the right make. I desire 

 a good folding hand net, one with a rigid frame, 

 convenient and get-at-able. There are various fold- 

 ing nets, built for trout fishermen, compact enough 

 to go into the ordinary tackle-box, though they take 

 some time to set up. Some of these trout nets are 

 arranged to hook on the coat of the angler, and if the 

 hoop is large enough, the net-bag deep enough, they 

 will do nicely for the bass fisherman who wades. 

 Our fisherman is in the water knee-deep or deeper, 

 a long handle is a decided disadvantage, he must 

 none of it. As to whether or not the net-hoop itself 

 should fold, all depends of course upon the needs of 

 the individual angler; simply, the folding frame is a 

 great convenience in transporting and packing, it 

 must be set up when in use. 



A number of automatic gaffs and hand nippers 

 have come into existence, many of which have lived a 

 short life. I remember well a certain automatic 

 gaff, when set with jaws wide open all the angler had 

 to do was to touch the fish, the jaws closed auto- 



