THE SALMON. 35 



degree of gaudiness is indispensable in all salmon-flies ; and the 

 angler will find from experience that the light-coloured and showy 

 bodies, and gray-coloured wings, are never-failing instruments 

 of success, where fish abound and are on the feed. This principle, 

 it is true, may be modified in. various ways and degrees ; but it can 

 never be entirely departed from without mortification or disap- 

 pointment. 



Thus much for the fly-baits. Though we have spoken dispa- 

 ragingly of bait-fishing for the salmon, we still think the matter is 

 worthy of a passing notice. The following has been of late years 

 recommended by fishers of experience in this line. A raw cockle, 

 or mussel, taken out of the shell; prawns, minnows, and worms 

 have likewise been used with occasional success. The mode of 

 angling with these is to cast the line, which must be without shot,, 

 into some shallow at the edge of a hole, permitting the bait to be 

 carried in by the current. When the fish has taken the bait, give 

 it full time to swallow it properly and securely ; after this, fix the 

 hook firmly by a gentle twitch. On the first sensation of pain, 

 the captive will probably plunge or spring in the air: but by 

 keeping the rod firmly, he will be captured without the same 

 degree of trouble or risk that there is in pure ny-fishin.g. Salmon, 

 prefer little fish and worms best on their first arrival in the tresh 

 water. 



t When the salmon takes a fly, the angler must immediately give 

 Mm line, and particularly bear in mind that the slightest degree of 

 rashness at this crisis will set him at liberty again. No matter 

 how seasoned or strong your tackle may be, no one can ever suc- 

 ceed in turning a salmon when he is first hooked. It is only by 

 giving comparatively gentle tugs, or letting him feel the weight 

 and pressure of the rod and line at short intervals, that you can 

 make him rush about backwards and forwards, so as to exhaust his 

 strength. Many fishers turn excessively nervous after hooking a 

 good-sized fish. We once knew one of the boldest officers of the 

 Indian armv, one who had braved the rampart in its most fearful 

 thunder ani carnage, with the most undaunted courage, who never 

 got hold of a salmon (for he was an enthusiastic brother of the 

 craft) without showing the symptoms of almost excessive trepi- 

 dation ; and this is by no means a very uncommon occurrence. 

 All experienced anglers know, from their own history, and from 

 what they daily see around them, how very exciting the sport 

 really is when you get fairly engaged in it. 



m The most unreserved patience and coolness are, therefore, in- 

 dispensable. Many fish will require unremitting care and skill for 

 two or three hours before they will yield ; and few of any size can 

 be landed as they ought to be in less than an hour. When the 

 river the angler is fishing has a broad shelving bed on each side the 

 stream between the water and the banks, and there are no trees 

 nor bushes to hamper and perplex his operations, then his work is 

 comparatively easy and expeditious ; but, on the contrary, when 



