SALMON AND MAIDENS. 321 



desperate gallopade will suit them. Depend upon it, bro- 

 ther angler, that there is no dogmatic rule to be laid 

 down either for maidens or fish. Take the word of one 

 who hath had experience of both. You can't diagram 

 them ; you must study their humours as well as you can, 

 and suit your arts to your customer as near as may be. 

 If that fails, try perseverance. Versatility is good, but 

 perseverance will often carry the day against all comers. 

 How often have I seen a salmon regularly bullied into 

 rising by an obstinate customer who wouldn't take 'No' for 

 an answer, but who kept flogging on till the favourable 

 moment arrived, when ' Ah ! there he is at last : and 

 hooked by jingo ! ' just as often as I have seen a girl 

 take at last a suitor to whom she has said ' No' half a 

 score of times ay, and meant it too at the time, you 

 know, only she happened at last to change her mind, and 

 he happened to be present when she changed it. So ' c'est 

 1'amour, 1'amour, 1'amour.' Is it ? It may be very often ; 

 but then again very often it is something else. So, having 

 said so much, I will for the benefit of the embryo salmon- 

 fisher give the generally accepted plan. It is a tolerably 

 safe one ; and as he grows experienced, he can vary it to 

 suit his own views. 



Having cast your fly, say across and a little downwards, 

 let it sweep round into the stream. You needn't ' humour 

 it,' as poor dear 'Ephemera' used to call it; it will find 

 its place without it, and will not require any humouring 

 on your part, beyond free permission to do as it likes ; and 

 be sure and keep an eye upon it just as it sweeps round 

 into the stream, for that is a very fatal moment, and it is 

 odds, if there's ' a fusshe aboot,' if you don't at that last 

 fatal curve see a boil, ay, and feel a pluck too, if you are 

 not in too great haste, which will send your blood spinning 

 with excitement. And when you do see the boil and feel 

 the pluck, what then ? Now, don't be in a hurry ; that is 



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