FISHING FOR SALMON 299 



at times take it as gently as a big trout would take a drifting 

 worm as it enters his favourite and shady pool. In this 

 latter case, directly the first intimation is conveyed to the 

 fisherman that the fly has been touched, an immediate and 

 steady resistance to any such pull should be made. 



When the fish is hooked, the rod should be held well 

 away from the direction of the salmon, and the strain on the 

 line should never be relaxed under any circumstances. 

 This is necessary not only because the fish may be lightly 

 hooked, or hooked on the bone, but in order to exhaust and 

 finally to bring it into the most convenient back-water 

 or quiet pool. Keep as much strain on your line as is safe, 

 but try not to frighten the salmon at the onset into dangerous 

 water by being rough. If a fish sulks get opposite to or 

 below it and try a fresh strain on the rod. 



GAFFING 



If you have no one to gaff your salmon for you, keep at your 

 fish until you have him beaten and into slack water. Bring 

 your rod up over-head and backward with one hand, 

 the line held for the moment between this hand and the rod, 

 and as your fish presents his broadside slip the gaff quietly 

 over its back, point sideways, just before the dorsal fin, 

 turn the point right down, and with one strong and deter- 

 mined pull bring the point into its side, and drag the fish to 

 the shore. 



Never, never under any circumstances attempt to take 

 your lure from the mouth of the salmon until it has received 

 a most complete quietus i.e., until the salmon is incapable 

 of motion. After you have administered the last rites with 

 the priest place your rod carefully in some safe position, and, 

 using the lancet in the disgorger of your knife, liberate each 

 hook from the flesh. Keep the mouth of the fish open with 

 the butt of your priest while doing this ; then weigh your 



