SALMON FISHING. 67 



the globe have been brought into requisition in order to satisfy some 

 portion of this craving. Small wonder, then, that rents for rivers, spring 

 or autumn, continue to increase, and that the Government of the day- 

 is being constantly and consistently urged to increase the close time 

 for net fishing, in order that the upper riparian owners may have some 

 chance of replenishing their pools. 



A man who has once hooked and played a clean-run salmon, and 

 has experienced the thrill of excitement that continues from the rise 

 until the salmon is safely landed, is not at all likely to forget it, or 

 to miss any chance of renewing his acquaintance with Salnw salar. 



The contest is such a fair one, there are so many chances in favour 

 of the fish, that no element of sport is wanting. He is so strong in 

 the water, so perfectly built for speed, that unless you handle him both 

 carefully and skilfully you may easily lose him, even if you have brought 

 him exhausted to the gaff. In that perilous moment, when flopping 

 and surging near the top of the water, how many a fish effects his 

 escape ! And who is there amongst us but has experienced the sickening 

 feeling of the straightened rod, and the fly released from the worn hold 

 in the fish's mouth ? It is just the uncertainty of the sport, added to 

 the strength and vigour of a hooked fish, that form the great allurement 

 to salmon anglers. 



Whilst in trout fishing — more especially with the dry fly — great 

 accuracy and delicacy of cast are required, the actual fishing for salmon 

 with the fly makes no such demands upon the angler. Provided that 

 he can throw a tolerably straight line of reasonable length, so as to 

 cover the places in the pools where the salmon are wont to rise, many 

 faults that would entail failure with the dry fly will pass unnoticed, 

 owing to the fly having been cast into swiftly running water, which 

 brawling water straightens out in the kindest manner the kinks formed 

 in the line by the incompetency of the wielder of the rod. 



To this extent, therefore, a novice may have the good fortune to 

 beat the more experienced hand. Once hooked, however, the novice is 

 out of it, unless he has at hand an experienced mentor, and the odds 

 are largely in favour of the fish. It is then that the accomplished 

 angler asserts himself. I have heard of men who consider that the 

 excitement of salmon fishing begins and ends with the hooking of 



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