134 
planted by light standing guides. Snake 
shape seems the most popular, though it 
undoubtedly has some disadvantages. In 
American fly rods the old loose ring still 
appears. The worst part of the ringing 
of the American fly rod is the end ring, 
which I have had to alter in all my own 
rods, as well as in those of my friends. 
The fly rod is used rings downward, in 
casting as well as in playing a fish, by the 
great majority of anglers. Under these 
conditions the one ring arrangement, as it 
appears on nearly all American fly rods 
which I have handled, is not satisfactory, 
causing an undue amount of friction. The 
accompanying tracing will help me to il- 
lustrate my meaning (II, Figs. 1, 2, and 3). 
Fig. 1 shows the way in which the line is 
twisted when working through the one 
ring tip as it is sent out, and Figs. 2 and 
3 show the alteration made by me; Fig. 3 
showing shape given to ring previous to 
bending it as shown in Fig. 2. It is a 
trifling one, and can be effected in a min- 
ute with a pair of ordinary pliers; but the 
advantages gained by it are not trifling, as 
anyone may ascertain for himself. 
The grip pieces, or handles, of split cane 
rods are often put on to the lower joint 
without sufficient care. Several cases have 
come under my observation where the end 
of the lower joint was let into the handle 
1¥4 inches, with the natural result of break- 
age in that place. Breakages of that, kind 
affect the reputation of the article and of 
its makers. 
I remember when eyed hooks of the im- 
proved modern patterns were introduced, 
the brilliant future prognosticated for 
them. Many of the authorities on this 
branch of angling held that the fly on eyed 
hook was sure to supplant altogether the 
fly on snelled hook, but this expectation has 
not been realized. 
The absence of space between the head 
of the fly and the eye of the hwvok is a 
serious defect. I found it finical work to 
tie the flies on to the gut in many cases. 
I have experimented, since then, with flies 
tied with a free space, 1-32 to 1-16 of an 
inch, between the head of the fly and the 
eye of the hook, and find that they are 
much more easily and conveniently tied to 
the gut, while not in any way more clumsy 
in appearance. For large bass, grilse and 
salmon flies I recommend return, or loop- 
eyed, hooks, in which the end of the shank, 
after having formed the eye, is laid back 
along the shank of the hook, toward the 
bend. 
There is another item about eyed hooks 
which I do not find satisfactory. The eye 
is somewhat small, especially in the larger 
hooks. It might be made larger, so as to 
accommodate even a twisted gut snell, 
without in any way making it heavier or 
more clumsy, by reducing correspondingly 
RECREATION. 
that part of the shank which forms the 
loop and the returned end of the shank. 
Rust proof or brown enameled hooks 
are less obtrusive than the japanned ones. 
I strongly recommend rust proofing for 
double and treble hooks to be kept in stock. 
It may increase their cost, but will certainly 
save more in the long run. 

THE KILLIE AS A BAIT FISH. 
I am told that a few years ago one could 
buy what were called salt water minnows 
in cities on the sea coast. These could be 
packed in sea weed or moss and expressed 
to any part of the country. They could be 
carried in the pocket, apparently dead, but 
when put on a hook and dropped into the 
water would hustle away just like a fresh 
water minnow. Are there such fish and 
can wa! be bought now? If so, of whom? 
C. J. Brower, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. 
ANSWER, 
The salt water minnow, or killie, is 
extremely tenacious of life, and _ bears 
absence from water wonderfully well. 
Under favorable conditions it is poss- 
ible to keep killies alive in an ordinary box 
for hours. If they are packed carefully in 
wet sea weed they can be transported with 
ease and may reasonably be expected to 
remain alive 36 hours and possibly longer. 
The packing of killies for shipment must, 
however, be done by an expert if this result 
is to be achieved. In the first place, the 
bottle green killies should be selected in pre- 
ference. There is a common striped killie 
known variously as night killie and bass 
killie, that is absolutely worthless; it dies 
within a few hours after being caught. 
Only the most lively killies should’ be 
used for shipment. The best weed for 
packing them is the ulva, or sea lettuce, 
and the pieces that are used must be bright 
green and living. If poor weed is used it 
will die and decay, killing the fish instead 
of preserving them. 
Great care must be taken not to pack 
tightly. A flat tray is best, if it can be 
handled by the transportation company. 
The weed must be thrown in loosely, and 
in such a manner that each killie is sepa- 
rated from the rest. If the packing is at 
all tight, the wet weed will heat and kill 
the fish. If a flat tray is too clumsy for 
shipment, a basket of open wicker work will 
prove the best receptacle. 
No salt water minnows could be carried 
around in the pocket and survive such 
treatment. The angler must carry them in 
a bait pail like fresh water minnows and 
treat them with as much care. 
These salt water killies will live for 
weeks in small pools of fresh water and be 
as hardy when taken out as they were on 
the day of their capture. In ordering, lay 
stress on the fact that the killies wanted are 

