164 
THE STHIPKD BASSE. 
single gut throughout the season, and if it can he procured of 
u large size, round and even throughout, in experienced 
hands it will be apt to take the most and largest fish. To 
your leader should he a Limerick or Kirby hook, from No. 0 
to 3, according to the season and sizo of the game. 
In no species of angling is it so necessary to have superior 
quality of tackle, ns 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 he 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 iteinB 
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 basso fishing. “ Your rod should be about 12 nr 13 feet 
in length, not too stiff nor yet too limber, for by being too 
stiff you aro 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 6f 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 
basso 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 ftiree-bixteonths 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 
