stantly moving. The combined effect of fear and 

 violent exertion produces, I am inclined to think, a 

 sort of apoplexy, or fit of stupor, in the fish; and 

 whenever he is suspected to be in such a state he 

 ought to be landed as soon as possible, before he 

 recovers. I have seen a large trout quite stupid and 

 exhausted when brought towards the shore, but, in 

 consequence of not being quickly landed, recover his 

 strength, and break away. The moment that an 

 angler brings his fish towards the shore, he ought to 

 be prepared to land him. 



FISHER. I quite agree with you that both sal- 

 mon and trout are seized, in consequence of their 

 struggles and their fright, with something like a fit, 

 which, for a time, renders them powerless. Perhaps 

 when they are so hooked that the mouth cannot be 

 regularly closed when the line is held tight, their 

 free breathing may be interrupted, and similar effects 

 produced in a fish as in a human subject when his 

 cravat is tightly twisted in the murderous gripe of 

 a cowardly antagonist. Whenever you have brought 

 a fish, in such a state, to the shore, net him or gaff 

 him directly. Have the " click" into him wherever 

 you best can, and do not tickle him to his senses 

 again by two or three misdirected attempts at his 

 gills, for fear of ripping his side. One fish gaffed 

 by the side is better than a dozen missed by trying 

 for his gills. Get him by the gills, if you can, but 

 get him however. Down on your knees as you draw 

 him to the bank, and quickly, quietly, and firmly 



