LANDING TOOLS ; HOW TO USE THEM 169 



simply hold him by the underside of the gills and dis- 

 entagle the hook. 



I can not write of netting a fish without adding a 

 word regarding that which should follow the net if 

 the angler expects to use the bass for food, and that 

 is, kill it at once. Do not leave the captive to die a 

 lingering death, flopping its life away on the dry 

 floor of a boat, or perishing on a string thrown o\%er 

 the side. A live box is of course a convenience un- 

 less the fish is badly hurt by the hook, or the box is 

 over-crowded. Be kind to your fish and the flesh will 

 be much better for food. You would not think of 

 eating strangled animal flesh would you, and a fish 

 dying out of its natural element dies practically the 

 same death that a land animal does when it suffo- 

 cates. A quick thrust through the back of the neck 

 with a sharp knife will do for a bass quickly and 

 mercifully. Let the fish bleed; you will find the 

 flesh more firm and sweet when placed in the pan. 

 Kill him quickly unless you are going to liberate him; 

 if so do it at once, handling the body only as much 

 as you must, and only with thoroughly wet hands. 



Some wise guy has said that it is the unexpected 

 which always happens. Now I do not know what 

 happened to him that he said it, but if a bass angler 

 I can imagine he hooked a big pike. Always the 

 bass caster runs the chance of hooking one of those 

 fresh water wolves and he should have all his plans 

 of battle drawn up beforehand. When you purchase 





