FLY-FISHING. 461 



far the best net I have ever seen ; some there are made of iron or steel, 

 jointed, and some of wood, with sockets &c., like a rod, very pretty 

 and handy, but liable to get out of order. The clip ought not to be 

 too small, it should be two and a half inches wide, the point slightly 

 bending outward, and about three inches from the lower part of the 

 bend to a line perpendicular to its point. The pole (landing) should 

 be about four feet six inches long, with a couple of rings lashed on to 

 it eight or ten inches or a foot from its top and about eighteen inches 

 from its bottom ; to these, when you have to carry the clip yourself, 

 you fasten a cord and sling it behind you. Trouting, you would hold 

 it in one hand ; salmon-fishing, you cannot, since you require both 

 hands to work the rod. 



FISH-BASKET. 



The most convenient thing to carry trout in is a wicker pannier, 

 fitting to the back, with a hole in the lid these are to be bought at 

 any tackle-shop in the back of it are holes for the strap to run through ; 

 let me advise every one to use, instead of leather, a fine horse-girth of 

 proper length, with leather at buckle and for the strap inside the bas- 

 ket; this girth does not cut the shoulders, nor does it stretch when 

 wet. 



SALMON-BAG. 



The best article for salmon is a bag of moleskin, lined with fine silk 

 oil-cloth, two feet long by twelve inches deep, with a strap to it. I 

 never carried one, but fancy it won't go good with five salmon in it, 

 though it will hold them ; I prefer having some one else to tote the 

 sack along, though, if obliged, I certainly would use one of these 

 they keep the fish clean, fresh, and nice, especially if you put a little 

 wet grass into it; the inside requires washing occasionally. 



To kill your salmon you kick him on the head. To serve out trout, 

 put your thumb into his mouth and bend back the head till you hear 

 a crack. Besides the humanity of the thing, it is unpleasant to hear 

 the brutes flopping about in your basket, and still more so when they 

 are brought to table to see their mouths wide open. Those that are 

 necked keep their mouths shut, and tell no tales ; the others gape most 

 awfully, and speak loudly of your cruelty. 



What, now, is the best contrivance for carrying your flies in ? is a 

 very frequent question. Some use a tin box, either oval or circular, 



