180 Wet-Fly Fishing 



and then I quietly slide the landing-net 

 out of the landing-ring with the left hand, 

 lower it, and in one second, scoop that trout 

 into the net, with a rapid twist of the hand, 

 never unless absolutely compelled to do so 

 taking the landing-net handle out of A 

 or 0, the landing-rings, when wading mid- 

 stream. The trout is now in the net, and, 

 quite as easily as a sword is returned to its 

 scabbard, the left hand pushes the handle 

 home, till the ring of the landing-net rests 

 securely against the side of the creel. 



" You can now tuck the rod into the top 

 of one of the wading-stockings, allowing it 

 to rest over the bend of the right arm, and, 

 both hands being thus perfectly free, you 

 can seize your trout and break its neck 

 while it is in the landing-net. It is a 

 dangerous game to play when the trout 

 is out of the net, and it accounts for the 

 loss of many a good fish. But, the fish 

 once dead, the hook is readily removed, 

 and the trout quickly creeled. The next 

 moment you are casting over another rising 

 fish. 



" Surely this hint ' is better than a poke 

 in the eye with a sharp stick ' to fellow- 

 anglers. In my own hands it works per- 

 fectly, and very smoothly. 



