244 HOW TO GAFF A FISH. 



carry the long gaff himself while using the rod ; and if 

 he either lays it down, or sticks it in the bank by means 

 of a spear at its end, it will very frequently happen that 

 the fish will be landed some half a mile or more from 

 where he left it, and thus, when most urgently required, 

 Mr. Gaff non est inventus. Besides, should the sports- 

 man be fortunate enough to kill half a dozen good fish 

 of ten or twelve pounds each, as he may occasionally 

 hope to do (we have seen one rod land thirteen !) he 

 will find more than half a hundredweight dangling at 

 his back for eight or ten hours a rather embarrassing 

 burden. But should he be inclined to dispense with 

 the services of an obsequious William, he may then arm 

 himself with a short gaff of eighteen inches in length, 

 which he must continue to carry in his bag and use 

 himself, in the best manner he can. It may not be out 

 of place here to mention, that in gaffing a fish the 

 attendant ought to proceed to work with the utmost 

 caution and coolness, and avoid any sudden or impetu- 

 ous movements, calculated to alarm the fish and set him 

 to plunging ; and having quietly approached near 

 enough to him, from behind rather than in front, shove 

 the hook of the gaff gingerly under, rather than over him, 

 and having nearly raised the shank to his belly, but 

 without touching it, see that the point is in the right 

 direction, and then strike it into him with a lusty and 

 decisive back stroke, when his days will be numbered. 

 Simple as it seems in cool blood, to gaff a fish properly 

 and adroitly in the flurry and excitement of the moment 

 is easier described than done ; and it requires both com- 



