47 



spinner and especially the bank-spinner should not use any net 

 at all, but a gaff. His requirements need no consideration, there- 

 fore, under the head of " Landing Nets." But it is the case of 

 the peripatetic and generally solitary trout-fisher, whose rod occu- 

 pies his right hand, whilst his left is not infrequently employed in 

 holding on to the support of a stump or stone, that has to be 

 considered and catered for. It is the man who, whether with fly 

 or worm, spends the greater part of his time up to his waist in 

 water, and to whom return to bank, even if sure of there ' hitting 

 off his left net, would mean disturbance of his sport and loss of 

 his time. It is, I say, to these fishermen that the question " what 

 is the most perfect landing net for me ? " is of real interest and of 

 real importance. ... I will do my best to answer the 

 question. 



There are at least four primary conditions to be fulfilled in 

 such a " perfect net:" lightness; portability by which is meant a 

 " carrying position " that does not incumber the carrier or impede 

 his freedom of movement ; facility of immediate extrication from 

 carrying apparatus when wanted ; disinclination to tumble out of 

 it when not wanted. 



One or all of the following recent inventions or new combi- 

 nations of old ones, amounting to the same thing will be found 

 to satisfy the requirements stipulated. To take the simplest first. 

 This is what may be called a pocket net, made entirely 

 of wood, and weighing only 3 oz. The diameter of the 

 pear-shape ring is from 8 inches, its length 10^ inches, 

 and that of the handle 14^ inches total length of net and 

 handle, 25 inches. This is the net I recommended in the 

 " Modern Practical Angler," and it has been termed a " pocket 

 net " because the intention is that in carrying it the bottom end 

 of the handle, after passing through a small strap attached to the 



