SALMON AND SEA-TROUT, ' 229 



a salmon by oneself, it is wise to play him right 

 out, then to transfer the rod to the left hand and 

 keep the point up and the line taut till the gaff 

 has gone in or the tail has been grasped. Other- 

 wise, even at the last moment the hook may lose its 

 hold and the fish may escape. Keeping the line 

 taut is no easy matter, and, in tailing, the rod- 

 point has to be thrown back over the left shoulder, 

 or there will not be enough line out to enable one 

 to reach the fish. Occasionally it may happen 

 .that by reason of a steep bank or an awkward 

 eddy one cannot reach the tail with one's hand ; in 

 that case a pretty firm grip may be got by putting 

 the fingers under the gill-cover. Single-handed a 

 novice may well be nervous as to getting his first 

 .salmon out, but, if he plays it till it is quite beaten, 

 he will manage the business somehow. The safe 

 landing of one fish will be worth pages of advice to 

 him. The net is so cumbrous an article, if it is to 

 be big enough for salmon, that I would sooner be 

 without it, unless a gillie is with me. In that case 

 it solves all difficulties. 



Spinning for salmon is like spinning for trout on 

 a larger scale. The trace and hooks have to be a 

 .good deal stronger ; indeed, some people use wire 

 traces, such as those advocated for pike. The rod 

 ought to be from lift, to i2ft. in length, and some- 



