162 PLAYING A FISH. 



For our own part, we never trifle with a fish of 

 any size, but land him as soon as possible. We 

 mean not that we attempt to haul in a large fish 

 at once, but simply that we never miss taking due 

 advantage of every inclination evinced by the 

 struggler to be transferred to another element. 

 Who would use ceremony w r ith a fish under six 

 ounces ? Not we, indeed, but rather pull him in, 

 nolens volens. It is a proof that a fish is hooked 

 firmly, and likewise that he is large, when he de- 

 scends in the water and struggles at the bottom 

 or in mid- water. When he keeps leaping above 

 and floundering at the surface, rest assured that 

 he is hooked but slightly not in the cartila- 

 ginous, but in some ticklish, nervous, part of the 

 mouth ; and that unless you are gentle as a lamb, 

 and handle him " as if you loved him," tenderly 

 and delicately, he will, sans ceremonie^ give you 

 the slip. 



Now, then, as to managing a large fish. If you 

 have him in a fair open place and if you have 

 not, your first business is to get him there you 

 must endeavour to turn him down stream at once, 

 keeping him under as short a line as possible 

 without straining too tightly,, If he resist much, 

 give to him, that he may play his freaks at a 

 distance ; but miss no opportunity of winding up 



