1 82 TJie Salmon. 



reel ; it would have been more " bungling," 

 in my opinion, to let the fish break the line 

 than to risk rod and line, as he did in 

 order to have a good chance of killing it. 



Chapter VII. treats of " The Salmon, 

 with directions how to fish for him." 



Although erroneous in some particulars, 

 Walton's general description of the habits 

 of the salmon is very good. If his 

 knowledge of actual fishing for this fish 

 was confined to the Trent and Thames, 

 his observation that baits are better than 

 flies still holds at least of the Trent, for 

 the Thames has long ceased to produce 

 salmon. Fly-fishing for Trent salmon 

 has often been tried, but almost, if not 

 quite, unsuccessfully. Here is Walton's 

 reference to the use of the reel. " Note 

 also, that many use to fish for a Salmon 

 with a ring of wire on the top of their Rod, 

 through which the Line may run to as 

 great a length as is needful when he is 

 hook'd. And to that end, some use a 

 wheel about the middle of their Rod, or 

 near their hand, which is to be observed 

 better by seeing one of them, than by a 

 large demonstration of words." 



Chapter VIII. contains "Observations 

 of the Luce or Pike, with directions how 

 to fish for him." 



For no statement has Walton been more 



