18 ART OF ANGLING. 



without a bite ; for many succeed with the most 

 monstrous and capricious baits of this gaudy 

 kind. 



A raw cockle, or muscle, taken out of the 

 shell, prawns, minnows, and worms, have also 

 been recommended as Salmon baits : the mode 

 of angling with these is to drop the line, which 

 must be totally unencumbered with shot, into 

 some shallow which approximates to the edge 

 of a hole of considerable depth, permitting the 

 bait to be carried in by the current. The line 

 should always be thrown across the river, and 

 on the off side from the spot where you expect 

 a fish to rise. When you imagine that a fish 

 has taken the bait, be cautious in giving it time 

 to pouch it, that is, to swallow it fairly and 

 securely ; after this, fix the hook firmly by a 

 gentle twitch. On the first sensation .of pain, 

 the fish will plunge and spring with great vio- 

 lence, and use every endeavour of strength and 

 cunning to effect its escape : it will then, per- 

 haps, run away with a considerable length of 

 line, which is to be kept in a gently relaxed 

 situation, so that it may always yield with fa- 

 cility to its obstinate resistance. If it becomes 

 sullen and quiet in the water, rouse it gently by 

 throwing in a few stones ; and when it again 

 commences resistance, do not be too eager in 

 checking its career, but let it gradually exhaust 



