216 ELEMENTS OF ANGLING. 



screwed to the brass arms of the screw which goes 

 into the handle. The net as it hangs is about 3010. 

 deep. Such a rim is very much lighter than the 

 ordinary wooden rim, and I can carry it on an 

 ordinary telescopic handle with a knuckle-joint. 

 It was made for me by a provincial tackle-maker 

 vears ago, and has landed some big fish in its time. 

 It is quite large enough for anything up to I2lb.* 



One hint with regard to landing a big fish is 

 worth giving. When he is safe in the net, one 

 should draw, not lift him out. A gaff is a big, 

 sharp steel hook without a barb, which one strikes 

 into a fish when he is beaten, then lifting him out 

 by force. A strong handle and a sharp point (which 

 should be covered with a wine-bottle cork when not 

 in use) are the chief requisites. Telescopic gaffs 

 with their own slings for carrying can be procured 

 at a price. Gaffing a fish should be done with a 

 firm, unhurried stroke, not with a snatch, and I 

 prefer to get the point in behind the shoulder if 

 possible. Most men, I fancy, gaff underneath. 

 Next it comes to unhooking, and here the gag is 



* Since this was written, the net, I grieve to say, has 

 landed its last fish. I did the very thing which the novice 

 is here counselled to avoid, tried to lift a fish out a brother 

 angler's I3lb. salmon. The rim of the net collapsed utterly 

 but we secured the fish. 



