A FISH SLIGHTLY OR FIRMLY HOOKED. 33 



If slightly, the fish on being struck generally 

 struggles for a few moments on the surface of the 

 water before he darts off into its depths : if firmly 

 hooked, the fish sinks rapidly and heavily towards 

 the bottom, as if he knew that the only way of 

 getting rid of the barb that holds him was by 

 attrition against stump or stone, or some such 

 thing, at the bottom of the water. You must 

 prevent the slightly-hooked fish from struggling 

 on the surface, by lowering the point of your rod, 

 and you must prevent the firmly-hooked fish from 

 sinking to the bottom, by elevating its point. 

 These two general rules are easily practised. 



I see your recently -hooked fish plashing about 

 upon the water, endeavouring to shake off the 

 hook, or at any rate to loosen its hold, which he 

 will do if you allow him too much freedom. 

 Point your rod downwards towards him, and the 

 slackened heaviness of. your line will cause him 

 to quit the surface. The moment he does so, raise 

 the point of your rod, so as to feel your fish and 

 keep him in hand, gently or strongly, according to 

 his size. If small, allow him just so much play 

 as will deprive him of any power of straining 

 your rod, wind up, and lift him out of the water. 

 If large, which you will soon find out you have 

 found it out already, by having measured him 

 with your eye whilst he was on the water give 

 him line, tightly though, as he darts through the 



Ll & . 



D 



