PLAYING A FISH. 161 



streams " have been whipping all the while before 

 them. 



We may as well, too, while speaking of 

 etiquette, mention another point or two which it 

 would be always well to remember : Never 

 attempt to fish any part of a stickle already taken 

 possession of by another angler. The rule is to 

 pass it entirely keeping well off the river, and 

 not wetting your line within two hundred yards 

 at least. When fishing with a companion, it is 

 usual to take alternate stickles, and sometimes 

 alternate fields. We strongly advise our pupils 

 never to fish hastily. If you find yourself much 

 pressed by anglers determined to fish ahead of 

 you, encourage them on for a mile or so, and then 

 turn back, and fish carefully over the ground they 

 have thus hastily tried. We deem this a valuable 

 hint, and trust it will be so regarded. 



But we had arrived as far as hooking the fish, 

 let us now proceed to the manner of bringing it 

 ashore. An experienced angler knows, with mar- 

 vellous exactness, the weight of his hooked fish ; 

 and, like a skilful general who knows the enemy's 

 strength, he shapes his tactics agreeably with that 

 knowledge 



" Some lightly tossing to the grassy bank, 

 And to the shelving shore slow dragging some, 

 With various hand proportioned to their force." 

 if 



