80 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
success, has often to be pointed out by. the local 
assistant ; whilst the tackle used is so strong, and gene- 
rally the nature of Salmon casts so open, that with 
ordinary skill a fish once fairly hooked has little chance 
of breaking away. The chief glory of Salmon-fishing 
lies in the “rise’—which is certainly magnificent—and 
the only difficulty of the capture, as a rule, consists in 
the “stroke.” So much is this the case, that I have 
known veteran Salmon-fishers, who, when Salmon were 
plentiful, made it a habit to resign the rod into the hands 
of an assistant after checking the first rush or two. But 
who ever heard of the Trout-fisher adopting such a 
practice? Not that I blame the Salmon-fisher ; for 
though I never could bring myself to follow in this 
respect the example of men who were doubtless better 
anglers than myself, still, it must be confessed that there 
have been moments when I felt sorely tempted to do so. 
Wielding a 19 or 20-foot rod for five or six hours con- 
secutively is apt to tire even the strongest muscles ; and 
as I have said, as a rule, the cream of the sport is over 
when the fish is fairly struck, and his first wild rush or 
two met and mastered. Still Salmon-fishing is a gallant 
game, fit for the persevering spirits and strong arms 
that play it; and it has, too, its gleams of triumph and 
excitement, the more intensely bright perhaps partly 
from their very shortness. 
But to return to the first part of my subject,—Trout- 
fishing. For the sake of convenience I shall divide this 
