SALMON FISHING WITH THE FLY. 247 



fish can then be drawn into the bank, net and handle in the 

 same position. On no account must the net be raised high out 

 of the water ; if it is attempted to land fish in such a fashion the 

 weight of the fish will soon tell on the hoop of the net and make 

 it unfit for use. It must never be attempted to net a fish tail 

 first ; he may be got into the net, but he has an awkward habit 

 of using his tail, and would be out of it again before you were 

 aware. When once, however, his head and shoulders are in 

 over the hoop he cannot escape. 



Many fishermen gaff their own fish, and will not on any 

 account delegate this office to anyone else. To accept aid would 

 deprive them of half their pleasure in fishing, and if they are of 

 this opinion I think they are quite right ; no doubt there is 

 much excitement in gaffing one's own fish, but it requires great 

 skill and practice to be able to do it artistically. There is, how- 

 ever, a certain amount of risk incurred, as when the line is wound 

 up so short as it necessarily must be to enable the angler to reach 

 his fish, if care is not taken to lower the point of the rod 

 and slack the line the moment the gaff is in, the chances are 

 the top will get smashed. This has happened to myself on 

 several occasions, and the object being to get the fish safe on 

 the bank, I prefer adopting the surer method of having my fish 

 gaffed by my attendant. ( Vide also pp. 92-93.) 



If it can be ascertained for a certainty that a fish is firmly 

 hooked, and there is a beach anywhere handy, he can be 

 stranded without the use of gaff or net, but this must not be 

 attempted until the fish is quite ' done ' and has not a kick in 

 him. The angler must wait until he can get his head above 

 water, and he can then run him in high and dry without 

 a struggle. If he cannot completely ' strand him ' thus, he can 

 put down his rod and tail him ; this is done by grasping him 

 firmly just above his tail with the second finger and thumb. By 

 this means he can be pulled out of the water without risk of 

 escape, and carried to a place of safety ; but it is only salmon 

 that can be landed in this way ; the tails of all. other fish, sea 

 trout included, would slip through the fingers, and this is an 



