FLOAT FISHING— TACKLE. 211 



proof bag of the trout-fisher, which, however, when empty 

 weighs next to nothing. 



It is bad enough to have to carry an empty panier when it 

 is a light one, but when it is a heavy one it is more than human 

 nature can stand. Some of the best and most recent improve- 

 ments in the matter of fish-carriers, whether bag or basket, will 

 be found figured in Vol. I. pp. 93-7. 



LANDING NETS. 



A gaff is rarely of any use in float-fishing, as the fish caught 

 seldom run of sufficient size to make its application necessary 

 or, indeed, possible. 



A landing net with a fairly long handle will, however, be 

 found an indispensable adjunct where the fish run anything 

 over half-a-pound, and even under that weight, especially in 

 the case of fish that are not ' leather- mouthed,' the presence of 

 a landing net will frequently prevent loss. The handiest net 

 for all sorts of fishing that I know of is that already described 

 and here repeated to save the trouble of reference. The mode 

 of fixing the arms of the net combines the utmost simplicity 

 with efficiency and strength ; the two arms can be separated in 

 a moment, when they lie flat together and roll up in the net like 

 a walking-stick. The net itself should always be made of oiled 

 silk, both for durability and also to prevent the hooks catching, 

 as they are apt to do, in the fibres of ordinary string or twine 

 nets. A net of the measurements given is the most suitable for 

 trout fishing with the fly, where the fish do not run very large. 

 It would be found large enough for landing any fish up to \\ lbs. 

 or probably 2 lbs. with a little management. For barbelling 

 and chub or bream fishing it would be advisable to have one 

 at least fifteen or sixteen inches between the points. In order 

 to make a net of this size carry well, however, the supporting 

 shoulder cord will have to be proportionately lengthened and the 

 butt of the handle leaded, to prevent, in the first place, the net 

 touching under the arm of the fisherman, and, secondly, over- 



