286 TROUT FISHING 



at the point of balance, the fkigers serving as little 

 more than supports. It seems to me that there 

 must be some affinity between the correct method 

 of holding a trout out of the water and the delicate 

 manipulation of the sportsman who smears his 

 arm with clay and embarks on the business of 

 " tickling " one under water. Anyhow I am sure 

 that when held properly a fish even out of the water 

 will struggle comparatively little, and this makes 

 a lot of difference in the heartiness with which it 

 resumes life when returned. 



Sometimes, in hot weather or after a long fight, 

 a returned trout shows no heartiness, but rather a 

 pessimistic tendency to lie on its back and give up 

 all attempts to live. In that case it must be coaxed 

 by being held in the proper position with its head up- 

 stream until it decides that life is worth while after 

 all. In obstinate cases a gentle movement back- 

 wards and forwards in the water seems to stimulate 

 the action of the gills, but as a rule it is enough to 

 hold the trout in the proper position for a minute 

 or two. If time is precious, as when the big fish 

 have just begun to feed properly on the Mayfly, 

 first aid can be given by propping the sufferer up 

 against the bank with a bit of stick which is stuck 

 into the bed of the stream. 



This matter of returning fish has provoked a 

 good deal of discussion on account of its presumed 



