106 THE SALMON. 
leaps he is near by you, and your line straight and out 
of water, he will try and strike it with his tail to break 
it, in which he may also be foiled by giving to him. 
My experience is to this eifect, and you will soon find 
out, if the fish are large and strong, how hard it is to do 
otherwise. 
It has been said that four times the length of the rod 
beyond the tip is the utmost length of line that can be 
handled with dexterity ; it is not meant that more can- 
not be cast, for I have often cast five times the length, 
but with an effort that soon becomes wearisome, and, if 
across a rapid current, without the requisite command. 
It is best to fish down stream, if possible, as otherwise 
your line sinks, and even in fishing across there will be 
considerable slack line. This is a second reason for 
rapid striking. There is another mode of managing a 
line, which is sometimes called casting, and by which a 
distance of eighty yards can be covered. The angler has 
a rod as thick at the tip as one's little finger, and a hair 
line as thick as the tip. Of course no reel can be used, 
as such a line would not run through the rings, or be 
contained on the barrel. The line tapers regularly to the 
fly. It is usually used in rapid water, and to cast, the 
fisherman waives his rod from side to side, lifting as 
much of it as possible clear of the water, and then 
throws out strongly with an underhand motion. The 
line rolls, as it were, raising itself from the water, as the 
impetus advances, till the fly is taken up and jerked over, 
so to speak, at an incredible distance. When a fish is 
struck he is drawn in by hand. I have not tried this 
proceeding sufficiently to speak positively, but think that 
