THE SALMON ANGLER'S OUTFIT 



There remains to be noticed a very important part of the salmon-flsher's 

 equipment, namely, the mechanical aid in landing fish. The trout-fisher 

 is happiest alone, unless he has to fish from a boat; but in salmon-fish- 

 ing the assistance of a gillie greatly lightens the labour, were it in no other 

 respect than carrying the fish when caught. Moreover, in some rivers 

 the use of a gaff is prohibited during part, or even the whole, of the season. 

 This renders necessary a landing-net or some other appliance too cum- 

 brous for the angler himself to carry or wield. 



The cardinal principle in using the landing-net is to get the head of 

 the fish in first. Scooping at the tail end of a salmon is a futile manoeuvre 

 and risky withal, for it is in the terrified dash that follows that the hold 

 of the hook is most likely to give way, whereas if the fish's head is en- 

 meshed his final struggle will but serve to keep him in the net. 



Besides the net and the gaff, a landing -snare has been devised and is 

 well spoken of by those who have used it in Norway and elsewhere. It 

 consists of a wire noose, held in position by a pair of curved metal arms, 

 passed from behind the salmon over its tail and drawn tight. A friend 

 has reported to me that with this instrument he landed five consecutive 

 fish averaging 30 lb. from the Sundals river, and nobody could ask for 

 better service than that. I have never seen this instrument in use. 



In gaffing a fish the hook should be laid quietly over his back nearer 

 the head than the tail, then drawn steadily and firmly home. Never allow 

 your gillie to strike at a fish; if he does so, take the gaff from him, even 

 at the risk of wounding his feelings, and apply it yourself. And never 

 allow him to put the gaff below the fish, except when it has to be taken 

 into a boat out of deep water. In such circumstances it is proper to gaff a 

 salmon from below; but in landing a fish from the bank an upward stroke, 

 if it misses its mark, is pretty sure not to miss the line. 



A trustworthy gillie is a mighty comfort, but he has not experienced the 

 full delight of salmon-fishing who has not wandered out alone and killed 

 his fish single-handed. I think I never had, and it is most improbable 

 that I ever shall have again, such exciting pleasure in the space of three 

 hours as fell to my lot on April 20, 1901. We had been fishing the river 



Minnick, my friend S and I, on the 19th; the water was in perfect 



trim; it was as certain as anything could be that fish must be in the river, 

 for the nets had all been removed during that and the previous season, 

 yet neither of us saw a sign of a fish during the six hours that we were by 

 the waterside. It was a flat calm, with a hot and intensely bright sun in 



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