3 i8 ROD AND RIVER 



Should a fish sulk, he must be moved by means 

 of a messenger, as I have previously described. 



It is no easy matter to gaff a salmon properly. 

 A man must be cool and quick. The gaffer 

 should always keep below the fisherman, and 

 out of sight of the fish as much as possible. The 

 gaff should be held hook downwards, and struck 

 into the tail end of the fish so as to avoid 

 damaging or killing it. If the gaff is driven into 

 the stomach, and by mischance the fish should 

 get off at the last moment, as has often happened 

 ere this, there will be every risk of its dying. 

 It is bad enough to lose a good fish at any time, 

 but it is truly deplorable when it has sustained 

 such damage as to condemn it to a lingering and 

 painful death. 



A fish should not be lifted out of the water by 

 the gaff. No gaff could stand such treatment. 

 It should be drawn upwards to the bank. The 

 gaffing and drawing the fish out should be per- 

 formed in one motion. As soon as the fish is 

 landed, it should be knocked on the head and 

 killed, and when the hook has been removed, 

 the gill covers should be lifted, and the gills on 

 both sides cut through with a sharp knife. This 

 sets the curd. If a fish is weighed before being 

 thus gilled and afterwards, the difference will be 

 remarkable. A pound in weight is generally 

 allowed after gilling. It is a somewhat curious 



