ANGLING FOR TROUT. 77 



required not to lose the fish or break the line, and this 

 must be regulated by what appears to be the size of 

 the fish ; for if small, it may be at once swung out on 

 the bank, which is the most successful way in par 

 fishing ; while the attempt to do this with a trout of 

 any size would be vain. When a fish, on being hooked, 

 descends beneath the surface, and struggles below in 

 the deep water, it may be safely inferred that he is 

 securely hooked; whereas when he flounders on the 

 surface and tries to leap out of the water, the hook is 

 seldom very deep. With larger trout, the rod should 

 be kept bent, so as to prevent him from running to the 

 end of the line. The strength of the line or rod should 

 never be trusted to without the assistance of a landing 

 net. When the angler is in the midst of the stream, 

 if from the moment the trout is struck, it is prevent- 

 ed from redescending in such a manner, that the upper 

 part of its head and eyes are retained above or on a 

 level with the surface, it will for the space of a good 

 many seconds be so much astonished as to be incapable 

 of any active exertions, and will frequently allow it- 

 self to be drawn in that position, and without 'resist- 

 ance, straight ashore. "^Yhen a fish," says Sir H. 

 Dav), "is hooked in the upper part of the mouth by 

 the strength of the rod applied as a lever to the line, it 

 is scarcely possible for him to open the gills as long as 

 this force is exerted, particularly when he is moving in 

 a rapid stream ; and when he is hooked in the lower 

 jaw, his mouth is kept closed by the same application 

 of the strength of the rod, so that he is much in the 

 same state as that of a deer caught round the neck by 



