392 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



schedule for the killing of salmon, so many minutes to 

 the pound, and the same sort of principle should rule in 

 the capture of sea-fish. But a rod should be a rod, not 

 a billiard cue or clothes-prop. Even tarpon are being 

 caught now on light Japanese rods, such as I used in 

 California, though when I caught tarpon in Florida, 

 four years ago, only very stout rods were in favour. 

 The kind of rod usually sold for catching sea-trout, 

 about 1 1 ft. long and fairly whippy, serves me for 

 bass and other fish up to 20 Ib. For bigger fish than 

 these, something heavier should be used. Treat the 

 rod well ; not perhaps as tenderly as a corn, but do not 

 tread on it. It will not, as sometimes advertised, last 

 a lifetime (unless its owner drowns himself before using 

 it), but, with fair play, it may last for years. 



In float-fishing, which is a deadly method from 

 piers and rocks, and, in a few cases (as for grey mullet 

 alongside piers)from boats, a rod is absolutely necessary, 

 as also for any kind of fly, or bait, casting. There are 

 a few cases, however, in which I would still advocate 

 the handline, even for sport. One of these is un- 

 doubtedly the case of conger-fishing at night, an amuse- 

 ment in which a rod is out of place and will probably 

 be smashed if the conger run large. Then, again, when 

 fishing for lythe or even mackerel from a boat going 

 fast under sail, the strain is too great for a rod, and a 

 handline (or two, one used in either hand, with wooden 

 toggles to prevent the line cutting the fingers) is far 

 more workmanlike. But whatever sort of rod be used, 



