126 



^whereby the learner may be at lesst cautioned against 

 error, if he should not acquire a complete mastership in 

 this very important branch of the art. 



Violence < always to be avoided. When we consider 

 the elasticity of the rod, and of the line, and that the 

 smallest change of position at the butt of the former., will 

 cause an immense difference in the situation of its point, 

 or tip ; and if we call to mind, that riot more than half 

 an inch of hook is in the fish's mouth, generally speak- 

 ing ; and that if that half inch pierces its mouth, our 

 object is effected : we shall then see the impropriety of 

 those strong uplifted pulls which many, even of those 

 who think themselves good anglers, exhibit, when they 

 have a bite : we shall' then acknowledge, that it ought to 

 be our study to cause so little change of position at the 

 butt as may be next to imperceptible, and to make but a 

 few inches difference at the tip. 



Delicacy in this particular is peculiarly necessary ; for 

 if the fish be struck, and be of any size, the line is not 

 endangered, nor is the hook torn through the hold 5 and 

 if the fish be not struck, he will be less intimidated, and 

 may return to the bait, which probably he never would 

 do, if it had been, forcibly pulled out of his mouth. 



Add to this, the many weeds, twigs, &c. which are 

 concealed under the surface, offer additional dangers to 

 the line ; for where they should happen to intercept the 

 hook in its abrupt motion, if they do not cause its imme- 

 diate loss, they occasion a tedious search, and such mea- 

 sures as effectually drive the fishes away. 



Ihe fencer and the cudgel- player are both sensible, 

 -that a very slight turn of the wrist gives quite a new 

 dkection to the weapon : it is exactly the same in striking 



a fish, 



