1-2 BANK-FISHING. 



softly, till the fish is within the ring, he should lift him 

 smartly out. 



The gaff is a sharp-pointed steel hook used chiefly for 

 landing salmon. In very sharp and shallow streams, the 

 landing-net is often rather unwieldy, and the gaff is pre- 

 ferable. The great thing in using the gaff is to keep as 

 much out of sight as possible : wait till you are sure of 

 your mark, extend the gaff beyond the fish, and then 

 strike it suddenly in, drawing at the fish and weighing him 

 up at the same time. But to return. 



In bank-fishing, the angler should never be without a 

 clearing-ring (see Plate I. fig. 2, p. 11), or his remissness 

 may result in his straining his line or losing it. He will 

 do well, too, to have in his pocket one of those hook-knives 

 which are deacribed further on, and may be seen at fig. 5, 

 Plate I. p. 11. He may thus upon occasion cut a weed 

 or twig to which his tackle may be hooked, and which 

 otherwise might be out of reach and might necessitate a 

 breakage. A drag with a coil of string is also serviceable 

 (see Plate I. fig. 1, p. 11). These things are useful, and 

 take up little room in carriage. A small triangular 

 fold-up camp-stool is a very good thing too, and saves 

 many an angler from rheumatism; for though a scrap 

 of waterproof will keep off damp, it is no protection from 

 cold. This stool also goes easily with the rod, and weighs 

 but a trifle. 



In bank-fishing perfect quietude is very advisable ; and 

 if the angler desires to stamp his feet, or run about, or 

 indulge in any method of quickening his circulation, it is 

 most desirable that he should retire at least fifteen or 

 twenty yards from the bank, if he would not frighten and 

 disturb the fish. On his first approaching the water he 

 must be very cautious, as the bare sight of his figure sud- 

 denly moving about on the bank will often serve to 

 frighten away every fish within several yards; although 



