LANDING NETS AND GAFFS. gI 
covenient net for any sort of bank-fishing. The ‘suspension’ 
is from the hook, passed over the creel-strap, and the ‘dis- 
engagement,’ as well as the movement for extending and 
bringing it into action, are exceedingly rapid. The length 
when closed is 2 ft. 7 in. Both the foregoing nets are non- 
collapsing. 
In taking a fish out of this or any other net the best plan, 
I find, is to grasp the fish first zz the net; then administer the 
coup de grice and extract the hook. In boat-fishing this will 
save much time, and usually when it is most wanted. 
In cases of heavy fish a more powerful and solid gaff handle 
than that fitted ‘to the ‘combination ’ net is desirable. This, of 
course, presents no difficulty when, as is usually the case, the 
salmon fisher is accompanied by an attendant who carries both 
the weapons and spoils of war. A hollow bamboo, 5 or 6 feet 
long—or say 6 inches longer than the rod joints, so as to carry 
a spare top—makes a comparatively light and at the same 
time thoroughly efficient handle. The ‘flaw’ in it is that the 
screwed-in gaff is given to turning in its socket, a performance 
as often as not accompanied by the loss of the fish. To remedy 
this I got Farlow to drive a steel rivet right through both gaff- 
ferrule and the screw of the gaff itself, the pointed end passing 
through and screwing into the opposite side (only). This, of 
course, makes any turning or twisting of the gaff impossible, 
whilst it is readily unscrewed whenever the gaff has to be taken off. 
PENNELL GAFF-FIXING. 
Should it happen that ‘Donald is too late,’ or that the salmon 
fisher has to depend on himself for gaffing his fish, a largish gaff 
with a handle only a few inches long, and a knob at the end, 
that he can slip into his coat pocket, will be found most con- 
venient. Some time is, of course, required in killing a fish 
under such conditions, as he must be brought within arm’s 
