280 



Book of the Black Bass. 



dozen pockets for leaders 

 and snelled hooks, with 

 small, supplementary cor- 

 ner pockets for loose hooks 

 sinkers, s\vi\ek, spoons, 

 etc. ^¥liere looped leaders, 

 double-looped snells and 

 short-looped flies, or eyed- 

 hook flies are used, it is 

 Just the article for holding 



the surplus stock. It should be closed by a long and stout 



leather strap and flat loops. 



Ckeel, oe Pish-Basket. 



For flj'-fishing, or bait-fishing, when wading a stream 

 or fishing from the bank, a creel is very useful and con- 

 venient for holding the angler's catch. 

 Pish are preserved in much better 

 shape, condition and appearance by its 

 use, and it is altogether more satis- 

 factory than the shiftless way of 

 ''stringing" the bass, and allowing 

 them to become water-soaked and 

 flabby, by immersing the " string " in 

 the warm and shallow water near the shore, or even by 

 " towing " them after the angler, if wading. 



For black bass, the largest trout creels will answer 

 every purpose; say Nos. 3 or 4, having a capacity of 

 twenty or twenty-five pounds. The shoulder-strap should 

 be leather or webbing, with a shoulder-pad, to prevent 

 cutting or bruising the shoulder. 



Fish-baskets or creels should always be well washed, a^jd 



