52 TREATISE ON FLY-FISHING. 



line in your hand, or by drawing him upon the 

 sand or gravel. Whilst the fish is engaged in 

 endeavouring to rid itself of the disagreeable cus- 

 tomer in its mouth, be careful to maintain a steady, 

 uniform strain, upon the line ; don't jerk at one 

 time and slack at another. If the fish is unusually 

 large, the butt of your rod must be held forward, 

 which throws the point back ; and thus the line 

 presses against the entire length of the rod, and 

 offers greater opposition to the fish than if the 

 top were kept down and the butt up. The fol- 

 lowing hints, from the pen of an experienced 

 fisherman, are deserving special notice. 



" If your fish misses the fly in making his offer, 

 wait awhile before you throw a second time, and 

 if he rises at all, he will come more greedily for 

 this delay. When he returns to his seat, after 

 the unsuccessful sortie, he will say mentally, 

 * What a donkey I was to be so awkward ! By 

 St. Antonio, if he comes again, I'll smash him ! ' 

 But if you keep lashing away at him immediately, 



