SEA-RODS, REELS, AND VARIOUS TACKLES. 73 
edge dipping under the surface, leaving the angler 
to guide the fish into it. Any attempt on the part 
of the assistant to scoop up the fish will almost 
certainly end in disaster. In landing fish from a 
pier, a large net is preferable to a gaff, as the effec- 
tive use of a long-handled gaff is exceedingly 
difficult, even for an expert+ 
Pike Scissors. 
But the fight is not quite over when a large fish 
is brought safely to the boat or landing- Gav-aad 
stage, for the hook has yet to be recovered dis- 
from its often well-armed jaws; and, if the ®°T8°T 
angler has no spare hook, time may be a great con- 
sideration. It is found necessary (a) to make the fish 
open its mouth, often no easy matter ; (b) to keep 
the mouth open without bringing the fingers in 
contact with its teeth ; (c) to push out the hook 
often from far down in the throat. To aid in these 
1 The neatest manipulation of landing-net and rod I ever saw was 
at Littlehampton, where the mullet-fishers keep a stone or two in 
the net, the weight of which holds the latter in position. 
