172 



was therefore managed with care, and led to the stiH 

 water, where a landing-net was in readiness to receive it, 

 as soon as ascertained to be firmly hooked. 



In regard to the junior classes of salmon, their habits 

 being precisely the same as those of their seniors,, nothing 

 particular need be said concerning the mode of taking 

 them. They begin at a very early age to nibble at a 

 worm j and, when about the size of a small mackerel, 

 are extiemely keen after the fly, especially those of a 

 dark colour. 



They frequent the long flat scours on the sides of rivers 

 near the sea -, and when the surface is ruffled by a smart 

 breeze from a warm quarter, towards the autumn and 

 fall, may be caught in great numbers. 



Your tackle for this sport should be very fine, and the 

 flies on hooks not exceeding No. (3 in size; indeed No. /% 

 or S, will be sometimes found to answer best. If you 

 do not wade into the water up to mid-leg, your line will 

 require to be let out to a considerable length -, as the 

 fishes generally lay some distance from the shore, at the 

 edge of the deep water. 



Do not consider it a wonder if, in casting for the in- 

 f 11 ts, you should hook one of the parents ; which, in 

 such waters, will give you much trouble, by frequent 

 leaps, and lashings with the tail. 



Salmon being often too heavy to be taken out of the 

 water by a common landing net, the gaff-' is in common 

 use among those who pursue this diversion. 



I have already described that instrument, and shall 

 briefly observe, before 1 j ass to the next chapter, that 

 the gaff, having a rord fastened at about a foot from the 

 upper end, may Lc cairied over the back, much in the 



game 



