STRIKING SIDEWAYS RECOMMENDED. 51 



cellent and experienced salmon-angler, writing on 

 this subject, says : " It is best to strike a little 

 sideways, that the hook may fasten in the fleshy 

 part of the mouth ; whereas, if you pull straight 

 up, you are apt to encounter the upper or bony 

 part ; or, if the fish has not closed his jaws, and 

 fairly turned ofl^", you may pull the fly from him 

 too soon, to the disappointment of both parties. 

 Sometimes, however, when a salmon is clean run, 

 and in high glee, you can scarcely miss him, 

 strike which way you will. In low water you 

 must be somewhat dilatory in striking ; you often 

 see the heave of the water and a break before 

 the fish has actually seized your fly. Give him 

 time to turn his head in his way back to his seat, 

 to which a salmon returns after rising at the fly." 

 Having spoken in praise of gentle striking, I 

 shall now speak in dispraise of striking rapidly 

 and rudely. This is teaching by contrast, a fa- 

 vourite method of instruction with me. This very 

 year ('49) I have witnessed several fish missed 

 by quick striking, and, in one instance, saw a 

 gut casting-line — which, if used fairly, would have 

 killed a hundred fish — lost, by the bad method 

 I am censuring. Some of the parties fishing 

 being of elevated rank or strangers, I durst not 

 offer corrective advice to them. To one party I 



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