32 THE AMERICAN TROUT. 



Fish are, in a majority of instances, hooked in the 

 corner of the upper jaw, where there is but a thin skin 

 to hold them ; by long-continued struggle, the hole wears 

 larger, and finally, to the agony of the fisherman, the 

 hook slips out. 



There are occasions when force must be exerted, and 

 then good tackle and a well-made rod will repay the cost. 

 At dusk one night I cautiously approached the edge of a 

 newly-made pond that was as full of stumps as of fish, 

 both being about the extreme limit, and casting into the 

 clear water, struck a fine fish of three-quarters of a 

 pound. Not one minute's grace did he receive, but I 

 lugged and he fought, and after a general turmoil I suc- 

 ceeded in bringing him to land, in spite of w^eeds and 

 stumps and twigs, which he did his best to reach. The 

 same was done with seven fish after a loss of only three 

 flies, and with a rod that weighed but eight ounces. 



A rod is not so apt to break from a fair strain as from 

 a short twist ; of course, if you strike a large fish as you 

 raise to cast, or catch in the bushes behind you when 

 your line is extended, any rod may break. This, how- 

 ever, rarely happens, and you are as likely to break the 

 tip by trying to pull the line through the rings with your 

 hand, or by lifting a small trout out of water and swinging 

 it in past you, as in any other way. In drawing a fish to 

 shore when you have no landing net, step back and 

 bring the strain evenly on your rod, and it will rarely give 

 way. If you find the fish takes down the current and 

 you are unable to hold him, follow him if you can, and 

 if not, point your rod toward him and bring the strain on 

 the line. The hook may tear out, or the gut may breal^ 



