CASTING FROM ROCKS AND BOATS 191 



my fly without touching it. The overcast character 

 of the evening suggested to me the use of a Bulldog, 

 and we were now enabled to practise the formulas at 

 which Ole and Knut at first appeared so much amused. 

 On hooking a fish I keep my seat, and direct the course 

 of the boat to a suitable landing place. The craft 

 must be pulled partly ashore, if feasible, before I at- 

 tempt to move. Then I rise and back gently to the 

 bow of the boat, where Ole is in readiness to lend me a 

 hand as I step out, sometimes no easy thing to do if I 

 have to land on a high, slippery rock. Delightful it is 

 to have the fish fighting all the time as only a grilse 

 will. Your salmon often moves sullenly, and will 

 cruise slowly about with a dull, heavy strain that is 

 most comforting to an experienced man, who feels 

 certain that the fish is well hooked ; but this is not 

 wildly exciting. 



Your grilse is here, there, and everywhere. There is 

 no slackening for him. He is a dashing light dragoon 

 ever at the charge, determined to do the thing with 

 spirit if it is to be done at all. At first I have no doubt 

 I lost more grilse by giving them too much law. The 

 longer the fish is on, the looser becomes the hold, and 

 I have always found it better with fish of 5 Ib. or 6 Ib. 

 to play them to the top of the water, and then run 

 them in without another check. Occasionally you may 

 lose a fish this way, but in the long run you gain, and 

 after a little practice you will get into the trick of bring- 

 ing the grilse on his side submissively into the net. 

 The butt, however, must be applied at the proper 

 moment, and when the proper stage of exhaustion is 

 reached can be told only by experience. To return, 

 however, to the formulas. The fish, being in the net 

 and landed, is handled by myself only ; the eager, 

 sportsmanlike instinct of your man will have to be 



