THE MOST DESIRABLE ANGLING TACT. 39 



CHAPTER III. 



ON WORKING THE SALMON-FLY THROUGH THE WATER, AND 



ON HOOKING AND PLAYING SALMON. HOW SALMON- RIVERS 



ARE TO BE FISHED. 



The composition of this chapter will afford me 

 pleasure. I commence it cheerily because its sub- 

 jects are pleasant ones. I have studied and prac- 

 tised them carefully, in right mood, I fancy, of 

 mind, and with correct performance of hand. 

 They are of immense importance. A man may 

 be able to throw a line into a nut-shell floating on 

 the water at a distance of thirty yards from him, 

 but if he do not know how to humour his fly and 

 hook his fish, his casting skill will be merely a 

 parade acquirement, very seldom leading to con- 

 flict or victory. Tact in working the salmon-fly, 

 and in striking and hooking a fish, is more valuable 

 than any other species of angling tact, and happily 

 there is no great difficulty in the way of its com- 

 plete acquisition. If I possess any piscatorial 

 tact, it is that in praise of which I have just 

 spoken. 



The error of the majority of salmon-fishers lies 



D 4 



