28 THE ART OF FISHING. 



of rod or line, or both; which a powerful fish 

 might do if not judiciously managed. When 

 you get him to the surface, there let him play and 

 roll over, again and again, which in all probability 

 he will do ; for the higher you raise him in the 

 water the more he will tire himself, till at the 

 last you can drag him to the side, and take him 

 out with the landing net. When you have him 

 safe on shore, place him immediately (for he 

 will then be tired, and will lie still for a few 

 seconds) on the ground, with his back upwards. 

 Out with your staff, and strike him with a sharp 

 blow on the nape of his neck, close to his head, 

 after the manner already given ; as to a smaller 

 fish, he will not require a second blow if he opens 

 his mouth and leaves ib in a contracted state, 

 which is a sure sign of sudden death. Put him 

 in your pannier with some fresh grass, not with 

 hay, as with that he would dry too fast, and lose 

 his beauty before you got him home to show him 

 to your friends. Both in snapping and trolling, 

 look well to your lines that they be strong. You 

 cannot well adopt a more merciless mode of 

 angling than to fish with iveak or rotten lines. 

 The very thought of a fish breaking away from 

 you, either with a gorged bait or his jaws ccn- 



