40 LANDING-NETS. 



without the aid of the net ; but I advise you to do 

 so rarely, as hauling the fish ashore over gravel 

 or sand will strain your rod prejudicially, and 

 very often injure your flies. Use the net upon 

 all occasions, unless some casualty occurs to render 

 it exceedingly inconvenient. When you have no 

 one to assist you in landing a fish, and the banks 

 are high, tire your fish out completely, and bring 

 him in close under the bank. If you cannot reach 

 him whilst holding your rod in either hand, wind 

 up tightly, and put the stop on your winch. Then 

 stick the spear or spike in the ground, your rod 

 inclining backwards from the river, and sinking 

 your net before the fish, bring it headwise under 

 him, and lift him out. If you frighten your ex- 

 hausted fish by clumsy use of the net, showing it 

 to him, touching him with it or making a noise 

 in the water with it, you may awaken in him a 

 death -flurry, fatal to some portion of your tackle 

 and to your success. The generality of landing- 

 nets are too small. On an average, they should be 

 by one-half as large every way as the largest that 

 are commonly sold in the shops. The thread 

 the meshes are made of should be stained of a 

 water colour ; and if frequent immersion in water 

 should wash the dye out, they should be dyed 

 again. I have seen many a fish break away 

 through the dreadful vigour with which he has 

 been inspired by the sight of a net bleached 



