LANDING NETS AND GAFFS. 91 



covenient net for any sort of bank-fishing. The ' suspension ' 

 is from the hook, passed over the creel-strap, and the 'dis- 

 engagement,' as well as the movement for extending and 

 bringing it into action, are exceedingly rapid. The length 

 when closed is 2 ft. 7 in. Both the foregoing nets are non- 

 collajDsing. 



In taking a fish out of this or any other net the best plan,- 

 I find, is to grasp the fish first in the net; then administer the 

 coup de grace and extract the hook. In boat-fishing this will 

 save much time, and usually when it is most wanted. 



In cases of heavy fish a more powerful and solid gaff handle 

 than that fitted to the 'combination' net is desirable. This, of 

 course, presents no difficulty when, as is usually the case, the 

 salmon fisher is accompanied by an attendant who carries both 

 the weapons and spoils of war. A hollow bamboo, 5 or 6 feet 

 long — or say 6 inches longer than the rod joints, so as to carry 

 a spare top — makes a comparatively light and at the same 

 time thoroughly efficient handle. The 'flaw' in it is that the 

 screwed-in gaff is given to turning in its socket, a performance 

 as often as not accompanied by the loss of the fish. To remedy 

 this I got Farlow to drive a steel rivet right through both gaff- 

 ferrule and the screw of the gaff itself, the pointed end passing 

 through and screwing into the opposite side (only). This, of 

 course, makes any turning or twisting of the gaff impossible, 

 whilst it is readily unscrewed whenever the gaff has to be taken off. 



PENNELL GAFF-FIXING. 



Should it happen that ' Donald is too late,' or that the salmon 

 fisher has to depend on himself for gaffing his fish, a largish gaff 

 with a handle only a few inches long, and a knob at the end, 

 that he can slip into his coat pocket, will be found most con- 

 venient. Some time is, of course, required in killing a fish 

 under such conditions, as he must be brought within arm's 



