SEA-RODS, REELS, AND VARIOUS TACKLES. 75 
bait, killing the larger fish, or trimming the 
knots on his line. Yet nowhere perhaps is there 
Icss room for variety. In the first place, two out 
of the three operations just enumerated should not 
on any account be performed with a knife at all; 
“PRIEST.” 
the fish should be killed with a blow from a be- 
laying pin or the gaff handle, better still with a 
leaded hammer or “priest,” of some pattern like 
that figured, which is made by Farlow; and the 
line should be trimmed with scissors, which enables 
one to clip the ends much closer without repeatedly 
scoring the gunwale or one’s thumb, as so often 
happens when using a large knife for the purpose 
FISHERMANS 
\ KNIFE. 
of trimming knots in a heavy sea. For the cutting 
of bait, two knives should be used ; a small knife 
with rounded (of pointed) blade for opening 
mussels,! a larger weapon for cutting up mackerel, 
herring, or squid. On no account use a folding 
1 The blade should be inserted in the small orifice found on 
scraping off the ‘‘beard,” and should then be worked completely 
round either chell to sever the mussel from its armour, 
