Fish and Fishing 



SUNDRIES 



I might under this heading fill a chapter, if not 

 a volume, as, taking the term in its broadest sense, 

 fishing "sundries" might be made to embrace the 

 entire contents of a tackle shop. But I will briefly 

 refer to a number of necessary articles, useful to 

 the angler and liable to be overlooked. 



There are a few tools of inestimable value to 

 the angler, which can be got small, compact, and 

 easily carried in the inside pocket. First and fore- 

 most is a pair of fine steel cutting pliers, 

 Required mos t useful when you get to a barb- 

 wire fence that is impassable (it fre- 

 quently happens to fat men) . Pliers come in handy, 

 should the hook accidentally fasten on the flesh, 

 either of face or hands; such a thing happens in 

 casting, though not often. Don't attempt to work 

 the barb back, which is a painful and dangerous 

 operation, but simply cut the point and barb off 

 with the pliers, then the hook comes out easily. I 

 once had to cut quite a hole in my first finger with 

 the point of a pair of scissors, entailing the loss of 

 blood that pliers would have saved in extracting 

 the hook. In addition to the " cutting pliers " a pair 

 of round and flat-nose pliers come in handy. An- 

 other valuable tool is a file for hooks 



Kmfe r ' S and other thin g s - The fishing knife is 

 an indispensable addition to a satisfac- 

 tory outfit for the angler. A proper knife should 

 have a good stout blade, scissors, screw driver, 

 266 



