CHAPTER VII. 

 Landing Nets, Gaffs, Tackle Boxes, Etc. 



iHILE the rod, reel, line and hooks or arti- 

 ficial bait are the most necessary articles, 

 and in many cases all that is really required 

 for catching and landing an ordinary fish 

 there are other articles that are useful and 

 sometimes can not safely be omitted. Of such 

 is the landing net, for it is of great value foi 

 landing a heavy or lively fish. Many bass and trout fisher- 

 men do not use a landing net, but many of these fish are 

 lost because of it and it is nearly always the big one that 

 escapes in this way. For the more common fishes it is not 

 so much needed as stronger tackle is used and there is less 

 danger of it giving way. 



Landing nets may be divided into two classes; those for 

 use when fishing from the shore or from a boat and those 

 for use when wading. For the first mentioned use a net 

 with a handle of from two to four feet is needed. The long 

 handle is best when the time comes to net the fish, but it is 

 less convenient in carrying, therefore the longer handle 

 should be selected for use from a boat and the shorter length 

 when fishing from the shore, but for this latter it should 

 never be less than two feet long. 



The frame or ring of the net should be of steel or other 

 rust-proof and strong metal. It may be either oval or round 

 and need not be of large size. 



The net should be made of strong twine and should be 

 deep and have a square bottom. The whole net, frame and 



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