SEA FISHING 



Nevada (Mo.), which fits on a two-jointed cane rod as used at Santa Catalina, 

 is a gem for light work. I have even used it for large bass in heavy water, 

 but that was asking too much, and it is better suited to mackerel fishing 

 and such -like sport. Vulcanite reels were at one time in great favour with 

 sea anglers. I had a series of these, but soon gave them up. They were 

 expensive and good to look at when new, but they easily smashed and 

 were, in fact, soon superseded by the older and more durable reels of 

 wood or brass. 



All manner of lines are used in sea angling, and ordinary dressed pike 

 or trout line, though expensive, is hard to beat. It should be remembered 

 that salt water is much more destructive of tackle than fresh, and all lines 

 of this kind should be dipped in fresh water each day, if possible before 

 the salt has dried on them, and dried either in coils or on a line-drier 

 before being wound on the reel. This may seem a counsel of perfection 

 to some who are too lazy to act on it, but it will save the needless expense 

 of continually replacing lines that rot before their time, and that may even 

 break at a critical moment and lose the best fish of the year. 



In the matter of gut, it is hardly necessary to use the best, except for 

 large bass in clear water. Good single salmon gut is the proper tackle 

 for these, and they are well worth the cost of it. For most other fish, in 

 deeper water, strong gut of second quality should be sufficient, and I 

 have found '* Telerana " a cheap and efficient substitute. 



Leads and hooks will be described in their proper place. The most in- 

 genious leads are those used in Cornwall, when a number of lines are used 

 out of a boat at anchor, and the two most specialized hooks are those 

 on chain and piano wire snoods for tarpon and the Turkish zokka hooks 

 soldered into kidney-shaped leads that are polished with quicksilver. 

 The object of the zokka is twofold, as not only does the bright lead attract 

 the fish, but it also prevents some, like the Infer of the Bosphorus, cutting 

 through the gut with their sharp teeth. A two-barbed hook, designed 

 by Mr Mitchell Henry as part of his outfit for big -game fishing, is referred 

 to in the chapter on tuna. 



As these introductory remarks deal with first principles only, it will be 

 convenient to deal with the subject under the heads of fishing from boats, 

 piers, rocks and open beaches. Until a future generation shall angle from 

 dirigibles or aeroplanes, one or other of these situations is unavoidable. 



I. BOAT-FISHING. — Save on dangerous coasts, where heavy surf may 

 prevent the launching of small boats, all the best of sea fishing is, with 



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