RULES, &C. FOR ANGLING. 349 



When you use the landmg-net, avoid touching your 

 line with it, or you hazard breaking the line, and 

 losing your Fish 5 and always put the net to the head 

 of the Fish. 



Many good Fish are lost, after they have been fairly 

 hooked, by the hook breaking or straightening; 

 therefore, make it a rule to try the strength of your 

 hooks before you use them, in the following manner : 

 hold the hook by the shank, and place the other end 

 over a nail or staple that may be driven in a board, 

 wall, or any other place 3 then, pull strong with 

 jerking ; then, if the hook break, there is an end of 

 the trial ; if it bend a little and again recover its shape, 

 it may be used, but if it bend or nearly draw straight, 

 it should be rejected, for you are as likely to lose a 

 Fish by the hook straightening as by its breaking : 

 a real well-tempered hook will neither bend nor break. 

 Small hooks may be tried by holding one between 

 the fore-finger and thumb of each hand by their 

 shanks, and hooking the bended parts together, then 

 pulling and jerking one against the other. 



From June till November, Fish feed or bite best in 

 the mornings and evenings 3 from November to May, 

 the middle of the day is best, unless the weather be 

 remarkably warm or muggy 3 in which case, you 

 will meet with sport from day-light till dark : and, 

 again, during the Summer, if the weather be dark and 

 cloudy, or warm drizzling rain fall, you may expect 

 sport in the middle of the day, and till it be quite dark. 



When you see Trout, Chub, or Salmon^ leap out of 

 2h 



