51 



STRENGTH OF FISHES. 



Having thus discussed the chief points with respect 

 to food, that it is requisite for the angler to be ac- 

 quainted with, it may be useful to notice a subject 

 uniformly omitted in books on angling,— the peculiar 

 strength which fishes can, or may exert, when they 

 find themselves hooked. This is important from the 

 consideration, that if the angler's Hnes are not strong 

 enough to stand the shock, or unless some device is 

 used to weaken its force, they must inevitably snap 

 and the prize be lost. At the same time, it is iio less 

 certain, that if, in order to be secure from such acci- 

 dents, he use a very thick line, he runs the chance of 

 scaring the fish, and preventing them from taking the 

 bait. The strength of fish in the water, must, it is 

 obvious, depend on their power of swimming. 



THE SWIMMING OF FISHES. 



The tail, with its pecuHar fin, more or less plaited, is 

 the principal instrument used by fish for making their 

 way through the water. It acts very much like the 

 sculling oar of a boat, and though it in part, like such 

 f»n oar, serves to direct the line of motion, this is only 

 a secondary circumstance, and not, as is the case with 

 the tail of birds, its primary function. 



A long and broad tail, therefore, and large fins, 

 are favourable for acting upon the resistance of water, 

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