OTHER TACKLE, FLIES AND MINNOWS 37 



it was out of the water and dead within eight minutes of 

 it taking the minnow. Now, if I had been threadlining 

 it would have been tortured for two hours before I could 

 have brought it to the gaff, and I call that wanton cruelty* 

 There's no sense in it." 



Strange as it may seem, this legitimate killer of birds 

 and fish has a very tender heart, and in the sanctum of 

 his fishing cottage there is a beige curtain hanging over 

 a door. This curtain he will never allow to be touched, 

 as in the autumn it is a sanctuary for many butterflies, 

 Red Admirals and peacocks, tortoiseshells and brimstones ; 

 and the old " sport " derives a wealth of happiness by 

 gazing affectionately on what he calls his pets. 



Truly, we are a queer mixture, and anglers are not 

 wanting in peculiarities. 



As threadlining is growing in popularity, every aspect 

 of that form of fishing deserves careful analysis and deep 

 thought. 



CHAPTER IV 



OTHER TACKLE, FLIES AND MINNOWS 



HAVING disposed of the fundamentals needed for 

 sea-trout fishing, attention can now be paid to 

 the ancillaries. Of these many are essential, while some, 

 being of secondary importance, may be relegated to the 

 sphere of joyful anticipation. 



The chief obstacle in writing a book on angling is that 

 the author has to cater for both the novice and the 

 expert. The former will say, " I should like to read 

 more about that/' while the latter will dismiss much 



