222 INSTRUCTIONS. 



near you, by gathering it up in folds witli your left 

 hand, and holding them fast against the rod with the 

 fingers of your right, letting them go again at the proper 

 time when you cast, in the manner I have before de- 

 scribed. Thus you may throw a very long line Avithout 

 endangering its safety by coming in contact with the 

 ground or any objects in your rear. 



You may fish to any depth you please merely by 

 elevating and lowering the point of your rod, according 

 to the run of the water. When the weathei' and water are 

 quite fit for the sport, the fish seizes the bait briskly, and 

 returns with it to its seat or elsewhere : you must give 

 him the line by pulling from the reel with your left hand, 

 and letting it run smoothly between the fingers of your 

 right. A check at this time may lose him ; but let him 

 alone a few seconds, and he will have gorged the hook ; 

 then strike and kill him as soon as you can : he is safe 

 enough. Fresh open weather is the best for this sport ; 

 but fish will sometimes take well even in a frost. 



Many excellent and credible fishermen have informed 

 me that they have had good sport with the worm in 

 northern rivers, and in those of Ireland, when the water 

 was thick. Their testimony I do not doubt ; I only say 

 fish are not caught with the worm, or bait, as it is called, 

 when the water is in a foul state in Tweed. I remember 

 a gentleman applying to me for leave to take a day's sal- 

 mon fishing, which I granted. There had been rain the 

 day before, and a spate came down in the morning. I 

 thought this unlucky; but he was of the contrary opinion, 

 and rejoiced in the change ; " For," said he, " if I sit on 

 the i^oint of a cairn, I shall catch every travelling fish that 



