412 THE SALMON FLY. 



fact that when Catches are either very high or have fallen below a certain 

 size, fish often rise and touch the fly, yet cannot be made to take it, use 

 what pattern you may. 



" I have often landed a fish so slightly hooked," says one gentleman, 

 " that, had I struck, the hold must have given way." Just so, if the 

 writer means " struck with violence," but, for all that, by my method of 

 striking, the flesh is never torn, and so" the chances in one's favour are in- 

 evitably increased.* 



Another remarks : " A fish very often rises at a fly with his mouth 

 wide open, and if he is struck at, the chances are that the fly will be 

 snatched away before he has time to close his mouth/ on it, which he might 

 have done if the hand had been held steady." 



With the aid of binoculars I myself watched the habits of Salmon in 

 this respect for many years. Sometimes they came with a rush, at other 

 times quite gently. In the former case, what I saw would be of no 

 practical value here, for as a matter of fact I saw next to nothing ; but I 

 have never once seen a fish come slowly with his mouth shut, or fail to close 

 his mouth on taking the fly. 



Precipitation in striking has already been discussed. 



In placing upon record some unusual success on the Tweed, another 

 writer observes : " For two hours I never saw so many fish hooked and 

 lost. But the Angler was somewhat successful, as he caught four, loi Ibs., 

 16^ Ibs., 19 J Ibs., and 21 J Ibs. in weight. It is the system I am anxious 

 to write in praise of." 



The " system " evidently meant the system of striking ; and I fail 

 to see where the praise comes in, with such an acknowledgment of 

 fish lost. 



Next I read : " Many a time have I seen my fly drop out of the fish's 

 mouth, the moment he was gaffed." 



How, I would ask, can a fly drop out, after the usual battle, unless the 

 flesh is torn, or, the barb broken ? 



I hope I am not wearying the reader by these quotations and opinions, 

 my object is purely to instruct, or rather to convince the novice as to the 



* X.B. A Frenchman wrote : " There are clowns who kiss their sweethearts with brutality 

 a gallant gentleman will kiss his foe with delicacy." 



