370 THE SALMON FLY. - 



be cleared from swirling eddies, that is certain ; but it is on -these very 

 occasions that the rod is liable to act upon it in a most prejudicial way ; 

 for the instant the line gets clear, the deplorable mischief of undue power, 

 so frequently used in the experiment, reveals itself and absolutely arrests 

 all further progress. To those who thoroughly understand switching, the 

 force of this argument is obviously manifest. 



But as against this argument the more one makes the line bow from 

 him in Petering the greater will be the tug on the rod, which fact 

 is sufficient of itself to ensure the thrash-down always proving effective. 

 The secret is not to allow the butt to assist in the Peter at all. The work 

 must be executed by the point of the rod, the action of which is brought 

 out not so much by the strength of the arms as by a free use of 

 trained and flexible wrists. Indeed, it must be distinctly understood 

 that any muscular exertion would mar the experiment and defeat the 

 object in view. 



I have a few words to say in hope of removing a slight prejudice with 

 respect to the cast, and making it more available for free use than in 

 times gone by. 



Common opinion declares the "Switch" to be good only for false 

 casting, but with the " Peter " it presents, in my estimation, much ground 

 for thoughtful consideration. I would add, for the instruction of the 

 uninitiated, that the "Peter" is unnecessary in streams or other straight 

 running waters, and that the measure of its success largely depends on 

 the varying circumstances under which it is employed. And it would 

 appear to me that the student should view at all times, with perfect 

 coolness and accuracy, the various circumstances of the situation, so that 

 each of them may produce its due impression on him without any 

 exaggeration arising from nervousness or lack of experience. The 

 influences surrounding this cast are self-registering, and unconsciously 

 write their story in all its fulness on the mind of the student who, watching 

 a clever performer, sees the combination of all its elements at once. 

 Clear vision is, however, a sine qua non. 



Some slight inconvenience may possibly arise from a too rigid 

 obedience to our preliminary instruction. If in elevating the rod steadily 

 at first the line does not "come freely" the process of "fiddling," as 



