THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 135 



latter well softened or the knot will crack and become 

 unsafe ; most essential. 



Ladders are a series of artificial steps inserted in 

 weirs, walls, or other obstructions which are placed across 

 a falmon river. They are formed by dividing- off a portion 

 of this obstruction and intersecting it with transverse steps, 

 either wood or stone, about two-thirds of its width, so as to 

 cause the runs of water to become miniature falls. Into 

 these partitions or steps the salmon find their way, where 

 they can rest, and readily work their upward passage to 

 the higher level of water. 



LaiP is the favourite spot of some monster trout, 

 usually the sole inhabitant, and who succeeds in capturing 

 all the insect food which may cross his kingdom, and is 

 generally able to defy all the allurements which the angler 

 may put before him. In nearly all streams and rivers these 

 lairs are to be found, and can be pointed out by a native. 

 They are always well situated so as to be a receptacle for 

 food for the fish, such as the bend of a river or an eddying 

 back stream, under sunken roots, &c. 



Lake Fishing" is mostly practised from a boat, with a 

 man at the oars well up to his work. A good broad boat is 

 almost essential for comfort, and although it may tax the 

 powers of the rower a little more than a narrow one, yet the 

 advantages it affords as well as the safety, will fully com- 

 pensate for this drawback. Two anglers can fish from a 

 boat perfectly well, one at the bow and the other at the stern ; 

 they should work to one another's hand as much as possible, 

 and watch their casting so as not to get the lines en- 

 tangled, which occasionally occurs, creating some trouble 

 to unloose, besides the loss of temper. In fishing a lake 

 fringed with weeds or flags, the best lie for the boat is about 



