242 DAYS AND NIGHTS OF SAL AWN FISHING. 



near you, by gathering 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 de- 

 scribed. Thus you may throw a very long line with- 

 out 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 according 

 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 elsewhere : 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 

 sport ; but fish will sometimes take well even in a frost. 



Many excellent and credible fishermen have informed 

 me that they have had good sport with the worm in 

 northern rivers, and in those of Ireland, when the water 

 was thick. Their testimony I do not doubt ; I only say 

 fish are not caught with the worm, or bait as it is called, 

 when the water is in a foul state in Tiueed. I remember 

 a gentleman applying to me for leave to take a clay's sal- 

 mon fishing, which I granted. There had been rain the 

 day before, and a spate came down in the morning. I 

 thought this unlucky; but he was of a contrary opinion, 

 and rejoiced in the change; "for," said he, "if I sit on the 

 point of a cairn, I shall catch every travelling fish that 



