232 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SALMON FISHING 



dexterity to throw a good distance without accidents. 

 To obviate these, and to effect your purpose, begin 

 with a line of a moderate length, and tuck out a few 

 folds of the reel, holding them fast with your hand 

 when you bring your rod back, but letting them go 

 just as you have discharged your throw. Thus 

 the line is short at first, but the weight of the shot 

 and worms carry out the folds to the extent required. 

 Having thus cast beyond the run of the salmon, let 

 the stream carry round your bait easily, without 

 any jerk on your part whatever, or any further 

 motion than humouring it towards the shore. Con- 

 tract the line as the bait comes near you, by gather- 

 ing it up in folds with your left hand, and holding 

 them fast against the rod with the fingers of your 

 right, letting them go again at the proper time when 

 you cast, in the manner I have before described. 

 Thus you may throw a very long line without 

 endangering its safety by coming in contact with the 

 ground or any objects in your rear. 



You may fish to any depth you please merely by 

 elevating and lowering the point of your rod, accord- 

 ing to the run of the water. When the weather and 

 water are quite fit for the sport, the fish seizes the 

 bait briskly, and returns with it to its seat or else- 

 where : you must give him the line by pulling from 

 the reel with your left hand, and letting it run 

 smoothly between the fingers of your right. A check 

 at this time may lose him ; but let him alone a few 

 seconds, and he will have gorged the hook ; then 

 strike and kill him as soon as you can : he is safe 

 enough. Fresh open weather is the best for this 



