LANDING A FISH. 39 



a fish. In doing so, never seize your line in either 

 hand to shorten it, unless (and the occasion will 

 not often occur) you cannot wind up rapidly 

 enough to prevent the fish from darting into some 

 dangerous place. Playing a fish with the line 

 in your hand, without having recourse to your 

 rod, is the very worst habit you can adopt. I 

 should say, avoid it altogether, which you will be 

 able to do if you fish with a perfect winch. The 

 best sort of winch is a carefully London-made 

 multiplier. Although this is nay opinion, I do 

 not act by it, but use a best London check- 

 winch. 



LANDING A FISH. A few lines will describe this 

 final operation. In performing it, mark, let your 

 person, and all that pertains to it, be as nearly 

 invisible to the fish as may be. Select the clearest 

 spot you can for landing. If you have anyone 

 with you to handle the landing-net, let him keep 

 himself before the fish, sink his net in the water, 

 and as you gently bring the fish towards it, let 

 him advance it underneath the struggler, and 

 when right under him, lift it up without a jerk, 

 and with an easy motion, well-timed and accurate, 

 after the fish is withinside the hoop. Never 

 thrust the net at the fish whilst he is in voluntary 

 motion, or touch him with it until he is fairly 

 inside it. Where there is no bank, but & low 

 shelving strand, you may land your fish on it 



