FISHING GEAR. 33 



be added. The interior should be divided longitudinally 

 by a third piece, and the seams should be carefully turned 

 in, double-stitched, and varnished. In it the angler may 

 keep a whole variety of requisites, and oil occasions a 

 change of linen. It may be fitted with rings or buckles, 

 so as to permit the shoulder-straps to be taken off or put 

 on at pleasure. 



The DKAG-HOOK and COED (fig. 13) is suggestive of 

 anything but pleasant ideas. It is about as awkward a 

 piece of furniture as a man could carry about with him. I 

 would rather lose a hook and line than be troubled for an 

 hour with one. 



The CLEARING- RING is, on the contrary, useful and easily 

 carried. It is used in clearing the line and hook when 

 entangled amongst weeds, roots of trees, piles, or other en- 

 cumbrances in the bed of a river. One weighing six or 

 eight ounces, of the accompanying pattern, (fig. 14,) can 

 be made by any blacksmith. The iron in the thicker 

 parts should be of a pear-shaped section, the thinner and 



Fig. 13. Fig. 14. 



sharper edge being in the interior. A piece of cord is 

 knotted to the upper end ; it is then slipped over the line, 

 which guides it to the obstruction, and then by pulling the 

 cord the hook and tackle may be saved. 



