PLAYING A FISH 229 



a second or two, over-slackened, and the fish, 

 especially if not fairly hooked, may succeed in 

 getting off. Where weeds, roots of trees and 

 other obstructions are present, the fish must 

 be held out of them as long as it is possible. 

 Should, however, it succeed in making for the 

 latter, the chances are that a smash will follow ; 

 if the former, and they are thick, the best plan is 

 to hang on and wait until the action of the water 

 may serve to disentangle them, and permit of the 

 angler's forcing the fish to quit its lodgment by 

 means of steady and continued pressure being put 

 on it to work it down-stream. Should this fail, 

 and waiting be too wearisome, there is nothing 

 for it but to move the fish out by means of stones, 

 clods of earth, etc. ; but care is necessary to 

 prevent the gut being broken when such measures 

 are resorted to. If the angler has but the 

 patience to wait, the fish will generally give in in 

 the long-run. It not infrequently happens that 

 a fish, more especially when but lightly hooked, 

 will rush off into the weeds and succeed in freeing 

 itself of the hook, leaving the latter sticking in 

 the former ; and the angler may be patiently 

 waiting, being under the impression that the fish 

 is still on, the belief being further strengthened 

 by reason of the tremulous motion imparted to 

 the line by the action of the water. For this 

 there is no remedy save that of philosophy. It 



