152 ANGLING. 



of salmon-fishers lies in their working the fly through the 

 water with too much force and rapidity. I am told, and 

 I have reason to believe it from some personal observa- 

 tion, that the error is more frequently committed by Irish 

 salmon-fishers than by Scotch. The latter, however, per- 

 petrate it commonly enough to be adjudged sinners re- 

 quiring earnest admonition. I advise gentle working of 

 the fly through and against the water, with no more 

 action than is required to display before the eyes of the 

 fish the artificial bait attractively ; with no more speedy 

 power than can be easily compassed by a pursuing fish." 



These remarks embody the essential principles of casting 

 the salmon-fly. With respect to the manoeuvring the fly 

 on the water, there is no such differences of opinion as in 

 fishing for trout. There are no up and down stream-men. 

 The fly must not be allowed to float down with the cur- 

 rent, but worked up against it, up and down beneath the 

 surface of the water, not dangled on the top, as in dipping. 

 The rod must not be allowed to remain still, but work up 

 and down, gradually drawing the fly towards the point of the 

 rod, up stream, until it sweeps over the possible haunts of 

 the salmon. The fly, under this motion, seems like a thing 

 of life from the action of the water, and when the waters 

 are high and cloudy, a large fly possesses an attraction 

 which few salmon can resist. It will be obvious, that with 

 the tip of the rod lower in proportion than in trout-fishing, 

 the angler has no light work to perform when fishing for 

 salmon. 



The salmon-fisher must never be disheartened. If there 

 are salmon in the water, there is a chance o" catching them 

 by any one possessing the necessary skill, and no little per- 



