FREAKS OF SALMO. 25 



the angler in such a predicament retains his desire to 

 possess the fish, he must just sit down, or in any other 

 way strike the attitude of patience on a monument, 

 until his salmonship pleases to move. The best way 

 of pulling at him in such case is by getting below 

 him ; and if he can't be moved that way, he can't 

 be moved at all. The safe rule in running a fish, how- 

 ever, is for the angler to have tackle in which he has 

 some confidence, and then, avoiding all jerks or sudden 

 strains, to maintain as firm and constant a control 

 over the salmon's motions as possible, until the fish is 

 exhausted. Then leading it gently to some favourable 

 place on the bank, he may either strike a gaff into its 

 shoulder or through its gills, or encircle it in a large 

 landing net. If he has an assistant to do so for him, 

 all the better, although we deem it hardly sportsman- 

 like for anglers to have their assistants wading into 

 the water and crouching to avoid the notice of the fish, 

 watching for an opportunity to " cleek" it before it is 

 exhausted. 



TROUT-FISHING. 



Of all kinds of sport, trout-fishing, to the people of 

 Scotland, is the most generally accessible. It is also 

 that which more than any other calls forth, or gives 

 occasion for the exercise of, the ingenuity, patience, 

 sagacity, and endurance, which enable man to conquer 

 the instincts and outdo the wariness implanted in his 

 prey for their protection. The sharp-sigh tedness, cun- 

 ning, and timidity of the trout and especially of the 

 trout of our much-fished border- streams are prover- 

 bial ; but even these must yield to the dexterity and 



