284 SALMON AND SEA TROUT FISHING. 



and curve. Many an old prized implement has closed 

 its chequered career in a vain attempt to whirl 

 backwards a length of sunken line. A defective 

 new rod will frequently collapse under a similar 

 trial. The nature of wood expends itself after a 

 number of years' straining service ; this is more 

 rapidly effected in woods worked persistently one way, 

 hence it may be perceived that a little considera- 

 tion is amply repaid in these matters. 



In plying the fly over salmon, much divergency of 

 method is evinced by different anglers whose indi- 

 vidual modes are contracted under different conditions. 

 The plan of the old school, which is still largely 

 followed, is to " dribble and jerk " and otherwise 

 " humour," or, as they express it, work, the guile in a 

 tempting and seductive manner. The action thus 

 employed consists of a series of "shakes " and "draws" 

 against the current. This " humouring " action is 

 conceived to be giving a life-like and natural 

 motion calculated to entice capricious fish. That 

 it is occasionally successful we cannot deny, as our 

 thoughts recall instances of its having proved irresis- 

 tible when other means have been futile. Unfor- 

 tunately, however, the humouring in this method of 

 salmon fly-fishing is not always on one side, mostly 

 we have found a very little "humouring" edify and 

 enlighten a sportive fish to an extent sufficient to stay 

 all trivial tendencies, instilling at once desire for 

 food and reflection in quiet retirement. But, as we 

 have said, it is sometimes successful, and these times 

 are generally when the beclouded sky and the 



