SALMON FISHING. 97 



is to resist for a moment the inclination to 

 strike ; only for one moment, but long enough 

 to allow the fish to take and turn down again 

 with the fly ; and then strike if you will : not a 

 slight hesitating blow like the tap of a lady's 

 fan for there is often a long line and a heavy 

 strain on it between the Salmon and his would-be 

 captor but a strong, steady, determined stroke 

 bringing the line up as flat as a knife, and driving 

 the tapering hook-point well in over the barb. 



Next to the number of Salmon lost through 

 striking too quickly, are those lost from striking 

 too feebly. I repeat, therefore, strike strongly 

 and hard, as I have described, and repeat the 

 stroke by way of making sure. If the tackle will 

 not stand this strain it is a clear proof that it is 

 not fit for Salmon-fishing. A weak stroke is 

 worse than useless, because whilst it fails to make 

 the hook penetrate, it provokes the fish to a 

 sudden violent effort to rid himself of it, and thus 

 lessens the chance of his hooking himself. 



If the above mode of striking is adopted, not 

 more than one fish in five which fairly take the 

 fly in open water ought to escape. I kept a 

 register for some time of my losses and takes, and 

 I found this to be a fair average. 

 G 2 



