236 THE SCIENTIFIC ANGLER. 



derneath the boat, when the rodster occupies one; there 

 the tackle is in danger of damage from the rough keel, 

 even if the fisherman is quick enough to pass the rod's 

 point around the stem or stern in time to avoid a dead 

 wrench upon, and probable smash, of the tackle. The 

 sulking propensities of salmon when hooked and wearied 

 by futile efforts to escape, are well-known traits of their 

 character. It is very tantalizing to await the pleasure of 

 a stubborn fish of this description. There are instances 

 upon record of anglers staying through the dark hours 

 with a sulky fish. All that we would say further upon 

 this subject is, that the necessity of such a thing is en- 

 tirely obviated by the use of any small metal contrivance 

 that will serve to drop down the line to arouse the fish 

 from its lethargy or persistent doggedness of disposition. 

 In river fishing for salmon, every stream, pool, and 

 likely eddy, should be well and carefully fished. When 

 the gleam of a fish is discerned below the fly, and no rise 

 ensues, a change of flies should be made. Salmon for 

 fastidiousness stand unequalled. Upon certain days they 

 take with avidity a certain kind of fly, while for some 

 time afterwards it may be refused for another and totally 

 different description. Upon the most frequented salmon 

 waters peculiar flies are used of local notoriety. We do 

 not believe, ourselves, in the hard and fast rules given as 

 to this or that special dressing being infallibly successful 

 upon any specified water, and on its uselessness upon 

 another adjoining lake or river. The salmon fly is but a 

 fanciful combination, arranged with a view to the general 

 artistic effect; and as nature presents no model for man 

 to imitate, the fanciful amalgamations of feathers, tinsel, 

 fur, and wool, are closed upon by the sportive and capri- 

 cious fish, in a mere spirit of wantonness, or because of 

 its being novel. We have often (and we doubt not that 

 a few of our readers have had similar experiences) sur- 

 prised native rodsters by the effect of a non-observance 



