THE ANGLER'S GUIDE. 19 



Well soaked is elastic, and your rod is very 

 pliable, and if your judgment be good, all 

 his endeavours to get away will be unavailing. 

 The grand thing, especially in a young angler, 

 is, not to be in too great a hurry. Hundreds 

 of good fish have been lost for want of a 

 little time and patience. Keep your rod over 

 him until he is quite still, and if you do not 

 use a landing-net, lift him out of the water 

 as gently as you possibly can, with the rod in 

 your right hand, letting him hang his whole 

 weight. Then very cautiously swing him to 

 your left hand, and as cautiously get him 

 within your grasp and hold him so fast that 

 that he shall not stir while you take the hook 

 out of his mouth. All this care is really 

 necessary, for if a fish of only four or five 

 ounces, and you pull him out quickly and let 

 him flounder about in your lap, or on the 

 ground, or any where else, it is ten to one 

 that your hair gets broken long before you get 

 the hook out. We have seen it done many, 

 many times. If your fish is above four or 

 five ounces, it is always best to use your land- 

 ing-net. Never at any time attempt to lay 

 hold of a fish while it is in the water, neither 

 suffer any other person to do so for you ; for 



