40 OPINIONS OF OTHERS ON 



only after the fish is well nigh spent, or one 

 struggle may carry away line, hook, and fish. In 

 all other cases avoid touching the line if possible ; 

 but having sufficiently played the fish, whether 

 taken by bottom or by fly-fishing, bring him 

 within reach of the landing net, and then care- 

 fully conduct or slide the net obliquely under the 

 fore-parts of his body, which, if the fish be com- 

 pletely exhausted, will fall into it ; but if he has 

 still sufficient vigour, it will be prudent rather to 

 slide him over the net, than the net under him. 

 It must have occurred to every angler to have 

 supposed a trout or salmon to be completely spent 

 who, the moment he has been touched by the net, 

 or has even caught sight of the fisher, has sprung 

 off* with most annoying violence. Against such 

 an accident, it is prudent to be ever prepared by 

 keeping the rod in an upright position, acting on 

 a tightened line, but yet so disposed that it can 

 run at liberty if required. When the head and 

 shoulders of the fish are once fairly within the 

 net, a slight turn of it will take in the whole body, 

 and the net being then kept horizontally, will 

 ensure his safety ; for with the head downwards, 

 not any efforts he can make will disengage him 

 from the net ; but if he be received tail foremost, 

 as is sometimes done in deep waters, from over- 

 hanging banks, &c., beware of his plunge." 



In playing and landing a fish, do so with your 



