58 SALMON FISHING 



writers have striven to explain it, and have not 

 succeeded. Others, wiser perhaps, have touched 

 upon it only to say that it is inexplicable. This 

 further attempt to solve the problem may, therefore, 

 seem daring. I admit that it is ; yet I venture. It 

 will be noticed, I trust, that this chapter is not 

 ambitious in the customary manner. It does not 

 contain an exposition of the " overhead cast," or the 

 "loop cast," or any other. Elaborate instructions 

 as to each of these are to be found in earlier works. 

 There you shall see photographed experts ex- 

 pository in the acts. Now they are in the "first 

 position," with rod held parallel to the surface of 

 the water; then in the second, with rod erect and 

 line streaming in the wind behind ; anon in the 

 third, with the fly hurtling forward in the way it 

 should undoubtedly go. You shall also find how to 

 place your feet, in what pose to stand, and how to 

 hold the rod when the fly is " fishing." All this is 

 admirable ; but in the midst of the elaboration the 

 essential principle is obscured. The principle is, as 

 has been said, that the rod and the arm are as one. 

 The rod is the arm continued. That principle must 

 be grasped decisively. You could not throw a stone 

 if your arm were dislocated at the elbow. Similarly, 

 you cannot throw a fly unless hand and rod are taut. 

 A loose grip is dislocation. It leads to bungling 

 and vexing of spirit. Think. You have a catapult, 

 and are aiming. The shaft is in the right hand, 

 forward ; in the other is the leather bag enclosing a 

 bullet; the elastic is well stretched out. If you 



