36 HOW TO TIRE TOUR FISH. 



him with your eye whilst he was on the water - 

 give him line, tightly though, as he darts through 

 the water just tightly enough to enable you to 

 check him instantaneously should he near some 

 foul portion of the water. As he rushes from 

 you, keep going with him. holding him gently, 

 ' under buckle/ as they say, and at each pause he 

 makes after every rush, feel him more fully, by 

 presenting towards him the butt-end of your rod. 

 The lower joints of your rod will then incline 

 backwards over your shoulder, and the upper 

 pieces will be bent like the one half of a strained 

 bow, the weight of the fish being thrown on every 

 part of your tackle, arid equalised according to 

 its strength, the small and thick pieces having 

 the severest strain upon them. If whilst the rod 

 is in this position you find your fish still vigorous, 

 do not press upon him by holding the butt-end 

 of your rod too much pointed forwards, but, let- 

 ting it fall into an easy perpendicular position, 

 give a little line and move onward with your fish. 

 The greater the length of line he drags after him 

 through the water, the sooner will he be tired. 

 Still you must take due care that the line be not 

 too long to prevent you from making it taut by a 

 turn or two of your winch at an instant's notice, 

 or by inclining your rod backwards over the 

 shoulder. After you have checked your fish a 

 few times, and you find his struggles wavering to 



