SALMON FISHING. 139 



of may be tried over a dull fish, and oftentimes in vain ; 

 he has tasted steel before, and is mistrustful of toppings 

 and tinsel. 



If you do not know a river it is always most desirable to 

 have someone with you who does. It is not always easy 

 to tell which are salmon casts and which not on a biggish 

 river ; and you may waste much time on the part of a cast 

 which is of little value, and scamp that which should be 

 fished inch by inch. If you see any stones or sticks stuck 

 in any unnatural or unusual position, or any cuts in the 

 turf, <fec., on the bank of a salmon pool, go gingerly oppo- 

 site that ; ten to one it is a mark to note some fish that 

 has risen to some former angler, and which has not yet 

 been accounted for. 



When you hook a salmon play him as well as you can. 

 For some minutes he will play you most likely ; but when 

 he begins to calm down you may begin to alter the role a 

 little. It is of no use trying to check a salmon in his first 

 two or three runs ; but as his trips become shorter and 

 more laboured, let the line go out grudgingly, so that he 

 may have a good dead weight to pull against. In the 

 earlier part of the struggle all you can do perhaps is 

 supposing the fish is running up or down, and there be 

 danger ahead to take it in time, and by a little pressure, 

 and a gentle slant of the head, to run him clear of it. To 

 this end the instant you hook your fish, if you do not 

 know the pool well, look round ^nd take stock of all the 

 difficulties you have to contend with, so as to know well 

 beforehand what you want to do. Always keep a tight 

 line ; never let any slack hang about anywhere. If a fish 

 airs himself or jumps, drop the point of the rod, and give 

 to him all the line you can, so that it may be slack when 

 he falls in the water again ; but as soon as he is under 



