A DAY'S COACHING 41 



especially in those waters where trout are plentiful, and 

 where the fisherman is certain to have to return a good 

 number, may be minimized if a white cotton glove be worn 

 on the left hand, and if before the fish is handled this glove 

 is wetted holding the hand under the net when it is with- 

 drawn from the water is the most convenient method. 

 By adopting this precaution the skin temperature of the 

 hand is immediately lowered, and the in my opinion 

 disastrous effects of scalding the mucus off the trout, 

 mentioned on page 125 of this book, are avoided. 



When fishing, if it be seen that the size of a fish hooked is 

 below that which the fisherman wishes to retain, it is a 

 good plan to relax the pull of the rod and line altogether, 

 and in four cases out of five it will be found that the fish 

 will be able to quickly free itself from the hook. The 

 advantages of such a method are first, that one avoids 

 handling and hurting this delicate fish, secondly, it is a 

 cleaner and better method of getting rid of an undersized 

 trout and in the third place, the fly is less likely to be 

 damaged than when it is liberated by the hand. 



The above advice emphasizes the danger of relaxing the 

 line when the escape of the trout is not desired. A taut 

 line should be the object aimed at by all fishermen after the 

 strike is made. 



TAKABLE TROUT 



Stream trout, in my opinion, should not be killed under 

 the age of three years. 



The increase in the weight and length of trout varies 

 considerably, a four-year-old trout on the upper waters of 

 the Dart being no larger than a small-sized two-year-old 

 fish on the Itchen. The principal advantages or dis- 

 advantages of each season on the average growth of each 

 year's stock of trout should be considered, and the limit 



