118 TROLLING. 



the bait now and then somewhat higher in the stream, 

 and sometimes lower, so as to give ample range. The 

 extent of your compass, in that respect, must be 

 entirely subject to the breadth of the water, and to the 

 depth at the side ; whence, the length of your line 

 being regulated, you will have fair reason to expect a 

 bite. It is proper to remark, in this place, that the 

 spinning-bait answers well, both in deep, strong water, 

 (in which case, one or two shots above your swivel will 

 be proper, to keep the bait down ;) or it will succeed in 

 those very rapid shallows called scours, which are to 

 be found at the edge of all rivers in various parts, and 

 which sometimes stretch across the beds of the rivers 

 like banks, or what in sea language are termed bars. 

 A good angler will make his bait spin in still water; 

 but then the fish do not take it readily, because the 

 line, in such cases, cannot be concealed from their 

 view ; and the perpetual I may, indeed, say the 

 violent action it must maintain scares them. This 

 is not the case in a strong current, which spins the 

 bait when the line is long, and when the rod is very 

 gradually moved, merely to direct the bait across the 

 stream. With the spinning-bait, you will catch 

 salmon in all its varieties, trout, perch, and pike. 

 Sometimes you will find a chub on your hook. This, 

 however, is not the ordinary bait of that fish ; but 

 when very hungry, it will snap at small fishes, and 

 may, as I once experienced, be thus taken. Observe, 

 that as all fish, in seizing a spinning-bait, direct their 

 attacks towards its tail, viewing it as an object of pur- 

 suit, you need not be afraid of your trolling-hook 

 being too long, so as to come out rather behind the 

 vent, when it will do most execution. Many a very 



