REELS, CAFFS, AND BAIT TRAY. 



213 





a great length of line, and your lines will dry more quickly than 

 if made up in a smaller compass. 



Hair-lines are best kept in a net bag, the mesh sufficiently 

 small to prevent the corners of the reels protruding. As the 

 hemp lines are not commonly taken on shore from a large boat, 

 good-sized reels will not be found productive of inconvenience ; 

 but in boats of moderate size, or for amateurs travelling, eight 

 inches by six is quite large enough for packing comfortably. 

 The large reels will be strong enough if made of deal. 



Never hang your lines to dry on an iron nail, as they will 

 be sure to rot at the rusty spot. 



FIG. 64. Reel, Gaffs, and Bait Tray. 



Gaffs. The long-handled gaff (fig. 64 c] is used for taking 

 Squid, as described in the article on that fish, p. 194. 



The Short-handled Gaff (fig. 640). This is used to take on 

 board any fish large enough to endanger the tackle or snooding, 

 and for a seaside resident should be made by a blacksmith, 2^ 

 inches wide from the point to the shank, and securely clenched 

 or riveted through a handle i^ inch in diameter at the hook, 

 and tapering to i inch at the top, where a knob or head should 

 be left to prevent it slipping through the hand in lifting in a 

 large Conger or other monster of the deep. 



Ash, black-thorn, or beech make a good handle, but a clean 

 piece of red pine without knots may serve if the others are un- 

 procurable ; length from 2 to 2\ feet. 



