196 FAMILIAR FISH, THEIR HABITS AND CAPTURE 



improvised sail unless you have a thorough knowl- 

 edge of how to do it. It is, unfortunately, a most 

 common practice, but nothing can be more dan- 

 gerous. 



Don't attempt, when alone, to row a boat in 

 rough water and to fish with a rod or troll at the 

 same time. In such a case the management of the 

 boat demands undivided attention. 



Don't be careless in getting in and out of a boat, 

 especially where the water is deep, as a misstep means 

 a plunge overboard. Always draw a boat well up 

 on shore when not in use, as a sudden wind and high 

 waves will otherwise easily drift it away. 



Don't, under any circumstances, take a loaded gun 

 into a boat, unless it be one with the shells or car- 

 tridges in the magazine, not in the barrel. A lurch 

 of the boat may throw the gun to the bottom and 

 explode it, killing some one, or blowing a hole 

 through the bottom. 



Don't ever follow the dangerous pi'actice of row- 

 ing your boat as near a passing steamboat as possible 

 in order to catch the resulting swells. They are very 

 dangerous, and even with skillful management often 

 cause a boat to be overturned. 



Don't ever sit in a rowboat when having it towed 

 behind a steamer. A sudden lurch or turn might 

 throw the occupant out or capsize it. 



