I I 6 SALMON FISHING. 



according to most authorities to a considerable 

 extent to worm-fishing also. For example, Mr. 

 Stoddart lays it down that worm-fishing " can be 

 practised with success only when the river is clean 

 and small," and yet in Ireland I have known seven 

 clean salmon taken before breakfast out of " The 

 Leap" on the river Bush, in April, when the water 

 was all but in actual flood and hopelessly thick for 

 the fly. 



The mode of fishing as commonly practised is 

 extremely simple : a large single hook, say No. 1 4 

 or 15, is whipped on to two or three yards of 

 Salmon-gut. A supply of lob-worms having been 

 obtained, and, if feasible, previously scoured, the 

 hook is passed through the middle inch or two of 

 two or three of them, according to their size and 

 the size and state of the water, the last worm 

 being so put on that no part of the hook or barb 

 is left visible. Sufficient large split shot should 

 then be fixed to the line about if feet above the 

 bait, to take it well to the bottom, but yet they 

 should not be so heavy as to prevent the stream 

 carrying the bait freely along with it over the 

 stones. 



The bait is then worked very much like the 

 worm bait for Trout, except that the angler, 



