A FISH SLIGHTLY OR FIRMLY HOOKED. 35 



is a general rule for judging how a fish is hooked. 

 If slightly, the fish, on being struck, generally 

 struggles for a few moments on the surface of the 

 water before he darts down into its depths ; if 

 firmly hooked, he sinks rapidly and heavily to- 

 wards the bottom, as if he knew that the only 

 way of getting rid of the barb that holds him was 

 by attrition against stump or stone, or some such 

 thing, at the bottom of the water. You must 

 prevent the slightly-hooked fish from struggling 

 on the surface by lowering the point of your rod, 

 and you must prevent the firmly-hooked fish from 

 sinking to the bottom by elevating its point. 

 These two general rules are easily practised. 



I see, veluti in speculum, your recently-hooked 

 fish plashing about upon the water, endeavouring 

 to shake out the hook, or at any rate to loosen its 

 hold, which he will do if you allow him too much 

 freedom. Point your rod downwards towards 

 him, and the slackened heaviness of your line will 

 cause him to quit the surface. The moment he 

 does so, raise the point of your rod, so as to feel 

 him well, and keep him in hand, gently or 

 strongly, according to his size and the nature of 

 the locality. If small, allow him just so much 

 play as will deprive him of any power of straining 

 your rod, then wind up, and lift him out of the 

 water. If large, which you will soon find out 

 you have found it out already, by having measured 



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