42 THE SCOTTISH ANGLER. 



prised if it should come back to your hand again, evi- 

 dently without any thing. A salmon fly should be 

 angled with, in short jerks, among the most rapid parts 

 of the stream : the fish lie mostly near the head or bot- 

 tom of a pool, and seldom about the middle. In run- 

 ning them, use your legs as well as your line, but al- 

 ways keep the latter on the qui vive, letting it out 

 somewhat charily, with the assistance of the hand, and 

 taking every opportunity to wind it up again. The 

 fish, when hooked, generally ascends or strikes across 

 the current ; after a fair heat, he will often spring fu- 

 riously out of water, striving to disengage the barb from 

 his mouth, or shiver the line with his tail. At such 

 times, considerable skill is required to prevent him from 

 accomplishing his purpose. When he becomes calm, 

 he will take matters more philosophically, and not sel- 

 dom refuse any further resistance by attaching himself 

 firmly to the bottom. Rouse him immediately, as you 

 best can ; for he meditates the snapping of your line by 

 a sudden effort, when you are off guard. Either wade in 

 and kick him, or, if the pool be too deep, throw stones 

 cautiously near the spot where he lies. He will soon start 

 again in beautiful style, as if for the sea ; when he be- 

 comes exhausted, drag him to the edge, gaff, and secure 

 him. In order to rouse a sulky fish, many employ a 

 small ring of iron or lead, which is made to slide along 

 the line upon its snout. This apparatus, however, is 

 apt to disengage the tackle from its mouth, and may be 

 dispensed with. A salmon, hooked by the back-fin, 

 will play ten times more vigorously than one hooked by 

 the mouth. You may as well bridle a horse by the 

 middle, and attempt to turn him, as manage a large fish 

 so fastened. We have known anglers occupy a whole 

 day in securing a moderate sized grilse. 



There is, we believe, a very singular instance on 



