MEN AGAINST THE SEA 
IS 
as they act as braces or struts between the beams or gunwales, 
or try to salvage a piece of floating wood for the purpose. Take 
the heaviest piece and cut three notches near its end. These 
notches are to seat the three remaining pieces. These should 
be lashed firmly in position forming an angle of about 45 de- 
grees with the long line of the shaft. (Fig. 1, upper left.) The 
completed line can be fastened tightly to the shaft by cutting 
three or four notches near the end of the shaft and lashing 
the line to it with threads from the canvas. The grapple thus 
made is then ready for use and may be cast astern. The line, 
of course, should be held firmly or be made fast to the boat 
or raft. After you have rowed or drifted some distance pull 
in the grapple. You may find that all you have caught is a 
clump of seaweed. If so, don’t be disappointed. Carefully 
lift the seaweed into the boat or onto the raft and shake it. 
Usually small fish and crabs will fall out. They may be 
eaten and will also make good bait. Even the thick, fleshy 
weeds floating in the sea may be chewed and some moisture 
and nourishment obtained from them. Whether you have to 
fashion your own fishing kit or have one, don’t overlook the 
possibilities of seaweed and the small forms of sea life that 
can be obtained from it. 
Making Fishhooks 
Very efficient fishhooks can be made from wood, preferably 
hardwood. First shape the shaft and cut a notch near the 
end in which to seat the point. Shape the point and sharpen 
it so that the hardest part of the grain will form the extreme 
tip as well as the barb. Seat the point in the notch on the 
570603° — 44 
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