72 The American Salmon-fisherman. 



sential part of our outfit, and since our dealers in fishing- 

 tackle seem to understand its requisites so imperfectly, I 

 will so far recapitulate as to formulate rules for its selec- 

 tion or manufacture, their order indicating their relative 

 importance in my judgment. 



1st. The hook must be stiff enough to withstand a quite 

 forcible effort to straighten it otherwise the gaff is per- 

 fectly worthless. 



2d. The depth of the point-side must exceed the width 

 of the hook at its widest point, measuring inside the 

 curve, by at least one quarter, better still by three eighths, 

 of an inch. 



3d. The wire must not be so thin as to cut the fish 

 much in lifting it from the water; it should not be so 

 thick as to be clumsy. 



4th. The point should be long, keen, and conical. 



5th. The gaff should be neither polished nor nickel- 

 plated. 



6th. It should be constructed to lash upon an impro- 

 vised handle, rather than to be screwed into a staff to be 

 carried with it. 



7th. The point-side of the gaff should be straight. 



This form of gaff is as much better than one which 

 screws into a handle, as it is more convenient. The 

 angler carries with him nothing but the steel. When he 

 arrives on the fishing-ground, his gaffer cuts a handle of 

 such length and weight as his experience and physical 

 peculiarities lead him to prefer. He flattens off one side 

 of one end of this, makes a hole for or drives in the spur 

 to prevent the gaff from slipping, and binds it fast to the 

 handle with twine. When the fishing is over, the twine 

 is cut, the steel removed, and the handle thrown away. 



