40 AMERICAN GAME FISHES. 



he vaults clear of the water, and "slue" him off from danger- 

 ous places when he gathers headway. You summon the 

 forces of the current to your aid in accelerating a favorable 

 momentum, and you counteract them when the influence is 

 adverse. If the Salmon once gets out of the pool into the 

 raceway of the impetuous lower stream, there is nothing to do 

 but follow him down the bank and over the slippery rocks, 

 into the water and out of the water, shoe-deep or waist-deep, 

 lifting your line over obstructing bowlders in the channel, 

 watching out for projecting ledges or branches of trees, keep- 

 ing your weather-eye always on the fish and looking ahead 

 for the best footing, holding your rod up and never allowing 

 slack, even though you stumble full length over the rocks; 

 not minding thumps or bruises, but keeping your wind and 

 saving your fish, no matter if you break your neck. And you 

 keep this up an hour, perhaps, giving as little line as possi- 

 ble, until finally you are so limp and blown that you couldn't 

 puff out a candle with your breath, and in bodily condition 

 much like the Salmon, your opponent, which by this time 

 has haply turned up his silvery side at the foot of the rapid, 

 convenient for the clip of your exultant and admiring gaffer. 

 Your attendant is an almost indispensable factor. He 

 must be mentor as well as assistant. In fact, he ought to be 

 as intelligent and experienced as his master. He is not there 

 merely to basket the fish and tote them. He should have 

 sense when to advise his companion, and when to refrain; 

 and above all things he should be cool and self-possessed. 

 He is able to perceive from lateral points of observation what 

 the man with the rod cannot see, and thus often to anticipate 

 the intentions of the fish, and head them off. He is to clear 

 away bushes which interpose, and rocks which impede the 

 passage along the bank; he is to take the rod betimes into his 

 own hands while the angler gains a better foothold or more 

 advantageous position, to steady him by the shoulders in diffi- 

 cult places, to help him by the hand and steer him, as a 



