64 



in a single unjointed piece, a strong 

 gaff 9 ft. 9 in. long, with a staff in- 

 tended to assist the wader when 

 " in difficulties," and which is likely 

 to be generally useful where rough 

 rocky bottoms have to be encoun- 

 tered. The strap enables it to be 

 carried easily over the shoulder. I 

 give the inventors' further descrip- 

 tion of the method of using it in 

 their own words : 



We consider it indispensable, more espe- 

 cially when fishing where the wading is 

 rough, and where the angler, after hooking 

 his fish, requires to leave the water quickly, 

 as it is as good or better than a third leg, 

 and there is little fear of falling. It should 

 be carried in the hand, fastened by the 

 leather strap over the right shoulder, which 

 admits of its being carried at arm's length as 

 a staff in the left hand, and after wading 

 into position in the pool, may be allowed 

 to hang by the strap, until that part of the 

 cast is fished, when it should be taken in 

 the hand to make the next step, and so on. 

 It is also useful to guage the depth when the 

 water is coloured. In fishing from the bank 

 the strap can be adjusted, so that it can be 

 worn slung over the shoulder, in which 

 position it is quite out of the way. In 

 either position it can easily be detached with 

 one hand by the spring clip, to bring it into 

 play as a gaff. 



Another excellent invention is 

 Mr. Basil Field's Gaff with an auto- 

 matic point-protector. The incon- 

 veniences, to use a mild expression, 

 of an unprotected gaff-point are well 



