60 ON SALMON-FISHING WITH THE FLY. 



afford favourite shelter to salmon, cannot be angled 

 over with too much care. A single cast or two will, in 

 most instances, be sufficient to determine the presence 

 or humour of a fish, in places where the shelter is 

 limited, or, it may be, doubtful, such as a single stone 

 or projection of crag; but with a range of water under- 

 wrought with rocks and retreats, the angler should deal 

 prudently and circumspectly. A cover of this sort it will 

 not answer to beat in quick, slovenly style, forwarding 

 oneself within ken and survey of the game, as some do 

 who, from their eagerness to be in medias res, plunge 

 waist-deep into the primest portions of the stream, scar- 

 ing right and left the liers in wait, whose plunges in the 

 distance are mistaken for sober, matter of course move- 

 ments, indicative not of alarm and excitement, but of 

 readiness to favour the adventurous and impatient 

 rodsman. 



It is here, on such a range of water, that the salmon- 

 fisher should exercise caution and employ method. He 

 ought to work progressively and with deliberation, com- 

 mencing above the extreme head or foot of the range 

 in question, and compassing the whole, I do not say 

 inch by inch, but in such a manner that no opportunity 

 shall be given for any one fish to avoid seeing the fly. 

 He should also beware, if possible, of disturbing the 

 water already experimented on, as by doing so, he not 

 only destroys the charm of a yet untried hook, but, in 

 frequent instances, so alarms the fish as to cause them 

 immediately to shift their quarters. Sometimes also, 

 when thus disturbed by the approach of one's person too 

 near their haunts, they will grow sullen and suspicious, 

 and this effect is not always readily worn off, but will 

 continue influencing them for days to come. 



How far off a salmon can discern the transit of a fly 



