STRIKING INSTANTANEOUSLY. 31 



of which it is composed, and he, therefore, as soon 

 as may be, blows it out again ; and this we con- 

 stantly observe when a timid irresolute learner 

 has raised a fish, and hesitates in striking it, fear- 

 ful of being too quick, or otherwise so paralysed 

 with the sudden attack, that he cannot collect 

 himself for a second or two, and half that time is 

 all that ought to be allowed for the seizure of the 

 bait, and the stroke of the angler. The striking 

 must be instantaneous to be successful ; for when 

 it is considered that the impulsive effort which is 

 to fix the hook in the mouth of the fish, which 

 has but that instant closed it on the bait, is first 

 to be taken cognisance of by the angler, and then 

 is to be acted on by him through a solid line of 

 communication of many yards in length, it will 

 be evident that a rapidity of action is required 

 almost equal to the thought that willed it ; for, 

 as already observed, unless the stroke reaches the 

 mouth of the fish before he has discovered the 

 deception, it is generally too late. Fortunately 

 for anglers, it is not always so, as the act of eject- 

 ing the bait being at the moment of the turning 

 round of fish for their retreat, it happens that they 

 occasionally at the same time hook themselves. 

 It is possible, however, to strike too quickly, and 

 this is frequently done by those who are very 

 ardent, as well as by those who, having been con- 

 victed of being too slow, attempt to amend by the 



