256 ON SALMON-FISHING WITH THE FLY. 



and deliberately, with a slight increase of speed or force 

 on the part of the performer as he proceeds. He will 

 thus, if managing properly, raise the dipping or em- 

 ployed portion of the line above and behind him, so 

 that, by further elevating the rod and bringing it round 

 over his head, both hands being employed in the exer- 

 tion, he shall cause the tackle in question to describe, 

 as it were, a sort of semicircle in the air. He must 

 then, at the moment when the sweep in question is 

 completed and the rod has attained its highest eleva- 

 tion, direct his fly forward, by a rapid impulse, towards 

 the spot where he wishes it to alight ; and this should 

 be done without any accompanying jerk or violent 

 movement, but solely by a firm continued exertion of 

 strength, as in the " putting" or launching of a large 

 stone or cannon ball. 



This is the left-shoulder method of throwing the sal- 

 mon-line, and is commendable, not so much 'on account 

 of its being more easily managed than the other, but 

 chiefly because of the advantage it gives the angler 

 when under a bank or in advance of shrubby ground, 

 where his hook, were it suffered to fly back instead of 

 being kept aloof, over his head, would frequently find 

 its anchorage behind, and thus endanger the safety 

 of rod and tackle, as well as try the patience of the 

 thrower. But there is no reason why, under favour- 

 able circumstances, right-shoulder casting should not 

 be resorted to. I think, for my own part, that the 

 fly hove from the right shoulder generally alights on 

 the stream surface with greater lightness, and can be 

 directed with more accuracy, towards the desired spot. 

 The sweep or circle is, in this case, described over the 

 arm or shoulder and not over the head, as in the other 

 mode of throwing. The fly consequently, during its 



