STRIKING SALMON. 285 



ruffling breeze ripples in gentle wavelets the surface 

 of the element of the fish, thus aiding the guile. 

 Upon some waters it " pays " better than upon others. 

 The straight drawing or trailing system over moving 

 sportive or poised fish we have ever found most 

 worthy allegiance for all round salmon and sea trout 

 fishing. When a fish shows himself and is cast over, 

 and fails or refuses to take when the fly has been 

 neatly put out to him, it may be steadily drawn over 

 his home or haunt, then slantwise and by him in 

 side directions, should he be still indifferent, finally 

 humour. Our method of so doing is generally to let 

 him alone for a season ; his fit of coyness most fre- 

 quently vanishes ere long. A heavily plagued fish is 

 often to be got when a passing mass of vapour in the 

 form of a threatening cloud loams between the earth 

 and the sun's beams, or a ruffly " choppy " breeze 

 befriends by obscuring the too apparent deception. 

 Rest assured too sanguine impetuosity is not rewar- 

 ded. Many fishermen are given to wield the rod 

 and ply the fly for hours after being honoured with 

 an offer from a fish seen on the move. Long hours 

 are by no means infrequently expended in working 

 the tackle as industriously and laboriously as though 

 the motive power was a piece of mechanism propelled 

 by steam. Rest assured, friend student, few fish 

 are to be bullied into biting ", this is a truism, if not 

 to be recognised as a proverb ; therefore, the true 

 angler's virtue " patience " the virtue undeniable of 

 the fraternity it follows, is the best policy. This, with 

 skill and tact, precision in delivery, and perseverance, 



