How to Fish for Salmon, 27 



running on the steep bank as well as I could. This 

 went on for a quarter of a mile, when we came to a 

 sharp bend of the river, where a great rock prevented 

 any following. Now then ! who will be the victor ? 

 I put on a strain, just letting him go, almost inch 

 by inch, a little more, still not stopping him. Eighty 

 yards of my line out ; now he is trying to get round 

 the corner ; I gave him the full strain, and dead- 

 stop. A struggle ! — will it hold } Ah, that's a fearful 

 tug ! it still holds — he yields — he's mine ! I wound 

 him up and got him to the only little still bit in 

 that part of the river ; my man was already below, 

 and most cleverly gaffed him as he came by him. 

 But salmon may be lost when fishing for them by 

 putting too much strain on them. I have seen this 

 over and over again with first-rate but obstinate 

 fishermen. Here is an instance : — 



A grand fish had been hooked, and after a 

 hard fight he began to tire. The strain was put 

 on too soon ; the butt given, and the fish came 

 in. " He's not killed yet ; don't press him too hard," 

 but the fisherman was obstinate, and did press 

 him — would not give him an inch ; his great back- 

 fin was out of the water, and his broad tail showed 

 he was a big un. " Go in and gaff him, he's not 

 killed yet," said the gillie ; " go in and gaff him— I'll 

 hold him fast enough." Well, he obeyed, and lo ! a 

 flourish of his tail, and away went the fish ; even then, 



