THE SALMON. 187 



inconvenience of the additional weight caused by the increased amount 

 of water it carries up with it. An eight strand, plain, whole-laid silk 

 line I say this because some cheap lines are hollow well dressed, runs 

 beautifully through the rings, and lasts, if properly treated, for at least 

 three, and often more, hard seasons. A tapered line is exceedingly 

 pleasant, and undeniably an advantage, but its cost is such as to render 

 it somewhat too expensive a luxury to the poor angler. However, I 

 always use one myself, and find its superiority consists in the greater 

 ease with which it can be thrown, and the increased rapidity with which 

 it can be reeled up. Three or four different sized lines should be in stock, 

 to be utilised according to the state of the water and wind. A fine line 

 cannot be got out satisfactorily against a stiff breeze, while a heavy one 

 may ; moreover, a fine line cannot be thrown so far as a heavy one, hence 

 the desirability of a selection. I once had a flat salmon line from Nor- 

 way, which I found to be wonderfully pleasant to use, besides occupying 

 comparatively little room. I wonder where such lines can be got now P 

 I am persuaded that, for fly fishing, they would become very fashionable 

 if carefully made. The casting line should be of gut, good round pliable 

 gut, and consist at its upper part of three strands, loosely twisted, then 

 of two, and finally of a yard length of fine, single, strong, well tested 

 gut. Its length ought to be quite 4yds., and its knots and joins carefully 

 made. 



Another implement, which is of some importance, must here be noticed. 

 I refer to the gaff. I confess to not liking the implement. It requires 

 to have a straight sharp point, and a handle of, say 7ft., made solidly 

 but lightly. In using it the hook is cautiously brought in contiguity 

 to the shoulder of the fish, and then a short sharp jerk fixes it in the 

 fish. Many a good salmon is lost because of the repeated drivings, 

 hittings, and plunges made at the fish by the clumsy attendant, and 

 I have often wondered why some other means of securing the fish, of 

 a more precise nature, has not been invented. A landing net made of 

 plaited hard-dressed silk is, in my opinion, superior to the gaff. It must 

 be large, however. 



Having, then, described the rod and its attached tackle, the next thing 

 demanding attention is the bait, in this case, a so-called " fly." 



The supposition in reference to the salmon fly that it is an imitation 

 of the dragon fly, humming bird, South American butterfly, and what 

 not, is, without question, untenable. The varied and gorgeous fabrica- 

 tions of the salmon fisher are unlike anything in the heavens above, the 

 earth beneath, or the waters under the earth, and differ in their suitable- 

 ness and killing power almost as much as they do in appearance. In 

 one particular they are all similar ; however, they are beautiful pieces of 



