466 MANUAL FOR YOTTNG SPORTSMEN. 



The gaff is to be used in the following manner : 

 When the salmon has been thoroughly exhausted by his 

 efforts to free himself from the hook, in which he has been 

 opposed by the elastic resistance offered by the rod, he is 

 brought near the bank, still keeping the butt-end of the 

 rod well advanced; and the assistant then proceeds to 

 strike the gaff into the shoulder of the fish, or if he uses 

 the single hook, to insert it into the gill-cover. The latter 

 plan is the least injurious to the beauty of the fish, and in 

 skilful hands will answer every purpose. In all cases, 

 however, the assistant should keep out of sight until the 

 angler is satisfied, by the yielding of the fish, that it is safe 

 for him to approach, for a neglect of this precaution leads 

 to the loss of many a fish. The assistant attempting to 

 strike him before he is spent only makes him desperate ; 

 and the efforts to escape, which before this were within 

 bounds, and under the control of the angler, are now 

 rendered madly violent. This tries even good tackle too 

 far, and either the hook itself or the gut gives way, or else 

 the hold on the fish actually tears away. Tact and experi- 

 ence are the only safe guides in this delicate point, and 

 without them apparent victory often ends in defeat. 

 Instead of the gaff or hook, the landing-net is much used ; 

 and in the South, as well as in Wales, is perhaps more in 

 vogue than the gaff. The only objection is its size ; but as 

 both must be carried by an assistant, since neither can be 

 well managed by the angler himself, this is really of little 

 consequence. If, however, the angler is either unable or 

 unwilling to obtain an assistant, the hook with sliding 

 stick is the best instrument for the purpose ; but even 



