226 



SALMON AND TROUT. 



fly cannot work as it ought to, which will be explained in the dia- 

 gram, fig. 2. A B represents the rod, supposed to be in angler's 

 hands standing at A. B c, the line cast, as it should be, down 

 and across stream. B D represents the belly made in the line, 

 which will increase, D E F o H, until the cast is completed at 

 i. K the point of the rod meanwhile being shifted from B to L 

 The disadvantages of a fly working in the manner I have 



shown when a fish rises, are, I think, obvious ; and I will 

 explain this more fully in describing a straight-across cast. 



There is a way of taking the belly out of a line, which was 

 taught me by an old fisherman when fishing the Kirkcudbright- 

 shire Dee in my younger days. I dare say many of my readers 

 will recollect old Jemmy Gordon, professional salmon fisher- 

 man at Kirkcudbright, who was called the ' Emperor, 'and right 

 well he deserved the title, for he knew more about salmon 

 fishing than any professional I have ever met, and I acquired a 



