POSITIONS CHOSEN BY SALMON. 251 



without a smash ; and never fail to try the but- 

 ting system when your fish is darting for some 

 dangerous retreat. 



In the absence of a guide, take it as a general 

 rule that salmon are seldom seen resting on a 

 smooth, gravelly, or muddy bottom. They incline 

 towards lying amongst rocks and large stones ; 

 and if a rapid current runs through them, the 

 angler must work his fly, not in the middle of it, 

 but by each side of it, for it is there salmon lie, 

 between the still and the rapid water. Salmon 

 very seldom lie in the middle of a rapid current ; 

 they could not do so without over-exertion. In 

 rocky or stony pools, where the current is mo- 

 derate, salmon lie in almost every part before 

 and behind, and between small rocks, and at the 

 extreme end of the pool, where it is falling some- 

 what rapidly to form the head of the next stream 

 below. Two rocks or large stones opposite to 

 each other, and somewhat apart, form two currents 

 which meet in an angle ; within, or a little below 

 this angular point, salmon constantly lie. The 

 fly should be thrown a little below the angular, 

 or pointed, meeting of the currents, and then be 

 worked first straight up the middle between them, 

 and then on the inner side of each current. In 

 good rivers I have seldom failed to find fish in 

 spots like the last described. I would never fish 

 in the boiling foam, underneath waterfalls and 



