8g modern practical angler. 



success, has often to be pointed out by the local 

 assistant ; whilst the tackle used is so strong, and gene- 

 rally the nature of Salmon casts so open, that with 

 ordinary skill a fish once fairly hooked has little chance 

 of breaking away. The chief glory of Salmon-fishing 

 lies in the " rise" — which is certainly magnificent — and 

 the only difficulty of the capture, as a rule, consists in 

 the " stroke." So much is this the case, that I have 

 known veteran Salmon-fishers, who, when Salmon were 

 plentiful, made it a habit to resign the rod into the hands 

 of an assistant after checking the first rush or two. But 

 who ever heard of the Trout-fisher adopting such a 

 practice ? Not that I blame the Salmon-fisher ; for 

 though I never could bring myself to follow in this 

 respect the example of men who were doubtless better 

 anglers tlian myself, still, it must be confessed that there 

 have been moments when I felt sorely tempted to do so. 

 Wielding a 19 or 20- foot rod for five or six hours con- 

 secutively is apt to tire even the strongest muscles ; and 

 as I have said, as a rule, the cream of the sport is over 

 when the fish is fairly struck, and his first wild rush or 

 two met and mastered. Still Salmon-fishing is a gallant 

 game, fit for the persevering spirits and strong arms 

 that play it ; and it has, too, its gleams of triumph and 

 excitement, the more intensely bright perhaps partly 

 from their very shortness. 



But to return to the first part of my subject, — Trout- 

 fishing. For the sake of convenience I shall divide this 



