ON ANGLING 173 



rules of angling, I have always slightly struck a 

 rising salmon, and believe that in the long run I 

 have gained by so doing. It seems as though you 

 fastened the hook more securely. 



Handling a Salmon- If you hook a fish near 

 the brink of a fall or rapid, try to move him 

 up stream immediately. The chances are that 

 for the first minute or two, by putting a fair 

 strain on, you can lead him where you want to, 

 as usually he does not seem to realize the cause of 

 the trouble very quickly, but when he does wake 

 up to it, watch your line closely, as this will pro- 

 bably be the supreme effort, a wild rush, and 

 perhaps two or three leaps in succession. Half 

 the battle is won if you handle him safely through 

 these. He may take many more runs or jumps, but 

 as a rule none will approach these first mad ones. 

 If possible, avoid letting a very long line out. It 

 is dangerous on account of the friction in the 

 water and fouling in obstructions, and often a 

 fish will break away with hardly any strain on the 

 rod. Too short a line is also risky and one should 

 never reel up more than sufficient to leave about 

 twenty feet of line from the tip of the rod. When 

 the fisn gets perfectly played out, reel up as short 

 as may be needed. Do not iiurry to try and bring 

 him in to the gaffman before he is properly played 

 out. Many a fine fish has been lost by so doing. 

 Take your time and remember that from the 

 moment a fish begins to show signs of weakening, 



