GAFFING. IOI 
All sorts of mechanical deformities are manufactured, and 
sold in the tackle shops, as ‘ gaffs,’ of which a good example is 
seen in the turned-out point of fig. 1—a facsimile of a gaff 
bought of a well-known London tackle-maker. Fig. 2 shows 
the correct shape, arrived at by the application of the same 
simple principles of mechanics already discussed in regard to 
ordinary fish hooks. [See also remarks and illustration, p. 91.] 
The skilful use of the gaff, besides demanding special quali- 
ties, can only be acquired in perfection by actual practice, and 
circumstances ‘ beyond one’s control’ are constantly occurring 
which of necessity make their own laws, and the best-considered 
system inapplicable. The following are, however, a few axioms 
that can be safely formulated as general guides. 
1. Never thrust your gaff forward until you are prepared to 
strike, and never make any half-attempts. These feints gene- 
rally scare the fish and not unfrequently cut the line. 
2. Under ordinary circumstances do not attempt to gaff a 
fish that is more than a foot below the surface, or until he is 
pretty fairly spent. The best position is when he is ‘ broad- 
side on,’ but often, of course, you must gaff whenever you can. 
3. The ‘proper’ place to gaff is between the head and the 
back fin. ; 
4. The critical moment having arrived, rapidly, but at the 
same time steadily, extend your gaff over and deyond the back of 
the fish, bringing it gently down upon it as it were. Thena short 
sharp jerk from the wrist and elbow will drive in the gaff with- 
out prematurely frightening the fish or endangering the tackle. 
After landing the fish, whether by net or gaff, the next 
point is to carry him. 
If the catch be a good one, especially of salmon, it is practi- 
cally out of the question for the fisherman to carry them him- 
self from place to place and fish at the same time. ‘ JVecess¢fas 
non habet legs, as a friend of mine once dog-latinised it, and 
these conditions are, of course, also a law unto themselves. 
In trout fishing, or where the spoils are not likely to be 
weighty, the fly-fisher, and still more the worm-fisher, will pro- 
