LANDING A FISH. 37 



to prevent the fish from darting into some dan- 

 gerous place. Playing a fish with the line in 

 your hand, without having recourse to your rod, 

 is the very worst habit you can adopt. I should 

 say, avoid it altogether, which you will be able 

 to do if you fish with a perfect winch. The best 

 sort of winch is a carefully London-made multi- 

 plier. 



LANDING A FISH. A few lines will describe 

 this final operation. In performing it, mark, let 

 your person and all that pertains to it be as nearly 

 invisible to the fish as may be. Select the clearest 

 spot you can for landing. If you have any one 

 with you to handle the landing-net, let him keep 

 himself behind the fish, sink his net in the water, 

 and as you gently bring the fish towards it, let him 

 advance it underneath the struggler, and when 

 right under him lift it up without a jerk, and 

 with an easy motion, well-timed and accurate, 

 after the fish is withinside the hoop. Never thrust 

 the net at the fish whilst he is in voluntary mo- 

 tion, or touch him with it until he is fairly inside 

 it. Where there is no bank, but a low shelving 

 strand, you may land your fish on it without the 

 aid of the net ; but I advise you to do so rarely, as 

 hauling the fish ashore over gravel or sand will 

 strain your rod prejudicially, and very often in- 

 jure your flies. Use the net upon all occasions, 

 unless some casualty occurs to render it exceed- 



D 3 



