164 THESTRIPED BASSE. 



aragle gut throughout the season, and if it can be procured of 

 a large size, round and even throughout, in experienced 

 hands it will be apt to take the most and largest fish. To 

 your leader should be a Limerick or Kirby hook, from No. 

 to 3, according to the season and size of the game. 



In no species.of angling is it so necessary to have superior 

 quality of tackle, as in the one under consideration. The 

 beginner should therefore provide himself with such descrip- 

 tions as will meet any emergency ; for in salt water, in the 

 bays and large rivers, the fisher- will often be crossed by 

 fishes of great magnitude, and by taking the proper precaution 

 to have every thing strong and durable, he will often prevent 

 loss of tackle and loss of patience, two very important items 

 of a successful Angler's stock. 



An experienced Angler and mechanic, who has made 

 many a rod, gives the following description of a proper one 

 for basse fishing. " Your rod should be about 12 or 13 feet 

 in length, not too stiff nor yet too limber, for by being too 

 stiff you are apt to break your tackle, or lose your fish by 

 being struck too hard, and by being too light you are apt to 

 break it, and thus spoil your sport. Besides, a rod of medium 

 size is lighter, more convenient to handle, and much more 

 likely to give you satisfaction after a tedious day's angling, if 

 any such should be your lot, than if it were stiff — a fault 

 which many new beginners are apt to acquire. For general 

 basse angling, the one I should prefer (and it is the one most 

 in use with good sportsmen) "would be about seven-eighths 

 of an inch in diameter at the butt ferrule, and a true taper to 

 the point, which should not exceed three-sixteenths of an inch 

 in diameter, making your butt sufficiently large for the grasp 

 of your hand, say an inch and a quarter in diameter, which is 

 about as large as will well fill your hand ; larger is inconve- 

 nient — smaller will be likely to cramp your fingers. 



" Your hooks should be about No. 2 of Kirby, or No. 1 of 



