18 ART OP ANGLING. 



about thirty or forty hairs thick at the top, and 

 gradually diminish as it approaches the gut bottom 

 to which the flies or other baits are affixed. The 

 bottom must be made of strong twisted gut. 



The artificial flies should generally be of large 

 dimensions, and of a gaudy glittering colour; the 

 Dragon My, and King's Fisher, are particularly 

 adapted for Salmon fishing (both of which are de- 

 scribed in this volume), although Salmon will take 

 almost any of the flies used for Trout, if made larger 

 than usual. The angler should imitate principally 

 the natural flies found on such rivers where Salmon 

 abound ; but he may safely indulge his fancy, rather 

 than depart without a bite ; for many succeed with 

 the most monstrous and capricious baits of this 

 gaudy kind. In most places the artificial fly is the 

 only bait used, being far superior to any other. 



A raw cockle, or muscle, taken out of the shell, 

 prawns, minnows, and worms have also been recom- 

 mended as Salmon baits : the mode of angling with 

 these is to cast 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 



