32 THE AMERICAN TROUT. 
Fish are, in a majority of instances, hooked in tlie 
corner of the ujDper jaw, where there is but a thin skin 
to hold them ; by long-continued struggle, the hole wears 
larger, and finally, to the agony of tlie fisherman, the 
hook slips out. 
There are occasions when force must be exerted, and 
then good tackle and a well-made rod will repay the cost. 
At dusk one night I cautiously approached the edge of a 
newly-made pond that was as full of stumps as of fish, 
both being about the extreme limit, and casting into the 
clear water, struck a fine fish of three-quarters of a 
pound. IsTot one minnte's grace did he receive, but I 
lugged and he fought, and after a general turmoil I suc- 
ceeded in bringing him to land, in spite of weeds and 
stumps and twigs, which he did his best to reach. The 
same was done with seven fish after a loss of only three 
flies, and with a rod that weighed but eight ounces. 
A rod is not so apt to break from a fair strain as from 
a short twist ; of course, if you strike a large fish as you 
raise to cast, or catch in the bushes behind you when 
your line is extended, any rod may break. This, how- 
ever, rarely happens, and you are as likely to break the 
tip by trying to pull the line through the rings with your 
hand, or by lifting a small trout out of w^ater and swinging 
it in past you, as in any other way. In drawing a fish to 
shore when you have no landing net, step back and 
bring the strain evenly on your rod, and it will rarely give 
way. If you find the fish takes down the current and 
you are unable to hold him, follow him if you can, and 
if not, point your rod toward him and bring the strain on 
the line. The hook may tear out, or the gut may break. 
