THE SALMON, 135 



succession of jerks. When a fish rises let him just turn and then 

 with a twitch fix the hook ; then be wary having all your wits 

 about you, as he will most likely dash off with amazing velocity 

 often springing to a considerable height out of water the moment 

 he feels the prick of the hook, causing your reel to fly buzzing 

 round as the line rapidly unwinds itself ; but even then you roust 

 follow up your fish, and get in line again as quickly as you can, as 

 finding his first effort unavailing, he will very probably make for 

 the bottom, as he does indeed sometimes in the first instance, and 

 endeavour to grub out the hook against the gravel, this he will the 

 more easily be enabled to do if you allow him too great scope of 

 line, though if a heavy fish, and determined to have his own way 

 in this matter, it is no easy task to prevent him. Throwing in 

 stones and clods is often resorted to in this extremity ; but if you 

 have an attendant who can reach him with a long rod, and just 

 awaken his attention by a poke in the ribs, it will be sure to arouse 

 him to action, particularly if you fix a stout darning needle at the 

 end of it. If you have space it is generally the better plan hot to 

 check the fish, or be too anxious to turn him, as many anglers are 

 too apt to do when they hook a moderate sized fish, and they can 

 depend upon the strength of their tackle ; for if you persist in en- 

 deavouring to turn the fish against his will, he will be very likely 

 to plunge and flutter at the surface, and so detach the hook which 

 is much more apt to break its hold in a small than a large salmon ; 

 the mouth of the former being remarkably tender. Force indeed 

 seldom succeeds in salmon fishing, and a too eager desire of mak- 

 ing the fish your own too soon, is often the cause of your losing him 

 outright. A salmon cannot be mastered without being played for 

 a considerable time, and even when apparently exhausted will 

 frequently make a fresh effort and escape. This often happens 

 when the fish on first showing his side is supposed to be utterly 

 exhausted, and is consequently too hastily attempted to be groun- 

 ded on the shallows, when, being aroused to a sense of his danger, 

 he flounders about and frequently either breaks his hold or the 

 tackle. Many afine salmon indeed has been lost even when thorough- 

 ly tired out by an attempt to draw him onwards as he lays on his 

 side upon the shallows on which he is grouped, when the addition- 

 al strain this brings upon the hook frequently causes the hold to 

 give way ; which, when the fish discovers, if he has a kick left in 

 him he'll not fail to avail himself of it. Some say you should use 



