CASTS AT RANDOM 165 



Killing Time in a Fishing Camp 



If the camp is a permanent one you will often have 

 time to kill and you cannot do better than to use some 

 of it in putting the fishing industry on a business-like 

 basis. As a general rule camping is seldom done merely 

 for the pleasure of life under canvas ; that is, the camp is 

 most often subordinate to the pursuits of fishing or 

 hunting or some other outdoor sport. You should not 

 allow all your attention to be taken up with the com- 

 monplace details of tents, outfits, cookery, and the like. 

 If the fishing is to be successful there are several things 

 to be looked to in this regard. 



One of the first necessities is a rod rack. Possibly 

 you will go into camp with the idea that, when through 

 with it, you will take the rod down. It is quite prob- 

 able that for the first two or three days you will do 

 this. After that it is extremely doubtful. Something 

 like the following comes to pass. You come in from 

 fishing and are immediately assailed with a more or less 

 polite request to rustle firewood at once. You lean 

 the split-bamboo against a convenient pine tree and do 

 your duty. Then other things demand your attention. 

 The rod is out of sight and mind. All night it leans 

 against the convenient pine tree and by the next morning 

 has acquired a beautiful set and is a fit candidate for 

 the rod hospital. Now if there had been a rod rack 

 this would not have happened. 



If your quarters are large enough have the rack in- 

 side; if not, then under the tent-fly close to the tent 

 where the rods will be protected and easy to get at in 



