NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLY-FISHING. 465 



Tweed especially, where it would be absolute folly in 

 the angler were he to humor the fish to its heart's con- 

 tent. A lively nervous grilse may occasion more alarm 

 among its kind than one is aware of, especially if the 

 water be of the transparent hue it generally bears during 

 the summer and autumnal months. In event, however, of 

 the salmon being few or rising shyly, I would advise that 

 some degree of care and ceremony be taken with what 

 fortune brings to the hook ; and that on such occasions 

 more regard be paid to the management of the fish under 

 control than to the non-disturbance of a few yards of 

 stream, where the chances of adding to one's success are, 

 at the least, extremely doubtful. In these circumstances 

 avoid using undue violence. Should the fish escape, the 

 consciousness of your having done so will only add to the 

 disappointment. There is one precaution particularly to 

 be attended to in respect to a newly run fish, and that is, 

 immediately on hooking it to use a moderate degree of 

 pressure. The salmon will then brave or stem the cur- 

 rent, and direct its course upwards ; whereas, on tighten- 

 ing the reins, it will frequently do the reverse, and thus 

 not only may a portion of the water in prospect become 

 disturbed, but there is considerable chance, and in some 

 places an absolute certainty, of the fish, if a large one, 

 making its escape." Baggits generally descend the stream 

 as a rule, when hooked, and no management will make 

 them leave the current ; but as they fight sluggishly, and 

 as their loss is of little consequence, provided they do not 

 run away with a good line, the butt may be shown them 

 pretty early, and with a considerable degree of power. 

 20* 



