ANGLING FOR SALMON. 99 



Tackle and Methods of Angling for Salmon. 



The rod for salmon fishing may be proportioned to 

 the size of the river ; but it ought not to be less than 

 fifteen feet in length. The reel ought to be large enough 

 to contain eighty or ninety yards, so as to admit of 

 abundance of line being given out when required ; for 

 many fish, when struck, run out to a great distance, 

 and with such immense rapidity as to prevent the pos- 

 sibility of the angler's moving in the proper direction 

 with sufficient quickness. A salmon, for the most part, 

 darts violently up the stream ; and, as the command 

 and direction of the fish is more easily kept with a short 

 than a long line, it is advisable to prevent his getting 

 too far ahead, by keeping 'the rod well back in 

 the opposite direction, and by running towards him 

 along the margin of the stream. When he gains the 

 head of a current, a salmon frequently throws himself 

 several times out of the water, on which occasions the 

 angler must yield him freely a little of the line ; but 

 during his general and less violent manoeuvring, he 

 will of course be the sooner exhausted the more firmly 

 he is held. When he appears to be making for some 

 safe haunt, or secret sheltering place, the great object 

 is to turn him towards safer ground, either by relying 

 on the soundness of the tackle, or, if he proves very 

 powerful, as well as very obstinate, then a pebble or 

 two may be thrown, so as to fall a little in advance of 

 his position, and he will probably turn himself round. 

 Some fish become sulky, and will lie after being hooked, 



