170 



lottom-rod, about 1 6 feet in length, and stout tackle, in 

 an advantageous situation, the angler should not be afraid 

 of the largest salmon. I consider a jack of the same 

 weight, to be far more formidable. 



Salmon will sometimes take a live bait, but may be 

 more readily caught by the common method of trolling 

 \vith a minnow, especially if you can anchor a boat in the 

 middle of the stream, so as to have an ample scope for 

 spinning your bait across it, as you sk at the stern. la 

 this way you may have good sport, keeping an excellent 

 command over the fish. 



If there is a good ripple on the water, the salmon will 

 bite freely, particularly on the tails of strong currents, 

 running on sand or gravel. They do not frequent muddy 

 situations. 



Some troll for salmon with small gravtings, or last- 

 springs, as they are called in some parts ; others use 

 small trouts. They are no doubt all good baits ; but I 

 have always remarked, that though the largest are the 

 jnost enticing, the smallest are the most certain. If you 

 play your bait with a quick motion, so as to make it con- 

 spicuous, and to conceal the device, you may be assured, 

 that, if the large fishes are on the feed, they will not be 

 long in announcing themselves, and will take a minnow 

 as soon as a gravling, &c. 



The angler, when he is intent on catching salmon, will 

 find it necessary to keep as much out of sight as possible, 

 and to avoid moving his rocL This precaution, indeed, 

 holds food in every branch of angling. 



The salmon is very singular among fishes in one par- 

 tic alar, viz. so soon as hooked, or Betted, it instantly 



empties 



