168 FISHING WITH THE SALMON ROE. 



mended, and in the matter of striking, acquires a very 

 important one. Sometimes, however, in certain loca- 

 lities, and when bull-trout or whitlings are observed 

 moving in his vicinity, it may be expedient to increase 

 the length of his cast or throw ; also, in brown or fine 

 waters, it is essential to do so. 



In baiting with the mixed or other paste, let the 

 angler extract a small portion, equal in size to a horse- 

 bean, from the pot or jar. This may be done readily, 

 by means of an old pocket-knife or other sharp-pointed 

 instrument. He requires then to insert the bait in 

 question, betwixt the projecting barbs of his hooks, in 

 the angle formed by their junction. A slight pressure 

 of the forefinger will assist greatly in attaching it, but 

 it is not necessary to conceal, as in worm-fishing, every 

 point of the wire. When casting, the angler ought to 

 be extremely cautious lest, by excess of force, he should 

 occasion his bait to drop off. He will find it preferable 

 to pitch it out gently from him, instead of throwing the 

 line over his shoulder. This, in general, he requires to 

 do partially up and against the stream, not forward 

 and at right angles with the bank, as is practised under 

 the ordinary style of roe-fishing. He must then allow 

 the bait to sink rapidly and travel at a measured rate 

 along the bottom or channel. When checked without 

 any apparent reason, he ought to consider it as seized 

 by a fish, and on such occasions, to act as if it were so, 

 striking home, in the direction of the current. Com- 

 monly, however, the bite or nibble of the trout is un- 

 mistakeable, although seldom, except in the case of 

 parr and small fry, very vigorous. The attack by a 

 good fish upon this kind of bait is quite distinct from 

 what it is upon the worm. He appears, in general, 

 rather to suck at it than seize it to roll it about in 



