I50 MODERN PRACTICAL ANGLER. 
difficulty of Salmon-fishing. Two causes combine to 
make the moment of striking a critical one: In the first 
place the Salmon is so large and bright, and in the second 
so comparatively slow-moving, owing to his bulk, that the 
eye almost certainly perceives him in the water before 
he has actually taken the fly ; when a premature stroke, 
an almost instinctive tightening of the muscles and line, 
at once snatches the fly from the fish, and the fish from 
the «creel... The..art,.4as to, resist. for ja,momentigue 
inclination to strike; only for one moment, but long 
enough to allow the fish to take and turn down again 
with the fly; and then strike if you will: not a slight 
hesitating blow like the tap of a lady’s fan—for there is 
often a long line and a heavy strain on it between the 
Salmon and his would-be captor—but a strong, steady, 
determined stroke bringing the line up as flat as a knife, 
and driving the tapering hook-point well in over the barb. 
Next to the number of Salmon lost through striking 
too quickly, are those lost from striking too feebly. I 
repeat, therefore, strike strongly and hard, as I have 
described, and repeat the stroke by way of making 
sure. If the tackle will not stand this strain it is a 
clear proof that it is not fit for Salmon-fishing. A 
weak stroke is worse than useless, because whilst it fails 
to make the hook penetrate, it provokes the fish to 
a sudden violent effort to rid himself of it, and thus 
lessens the chance of his hooking himself. 
If the above mode of striking is adopted, not more 
