Best Times for Salmon-falling. 37 



not generally known that the law forbids the taking of 

 these, the prohibition being seldom observed. Those 

 who persist in their capture maintain that they are a 

 distinct species of the Salmomdce, and, consequently, that 

 their capture is honourable sport, but such is not the case. 



Salmon bite best at small fish on their first coming 

 into fresh water, that is, in February and March, all day 

 long, and well at worms and flies, &c. until September, 

 all day, if the weather be dark and windy ; but in the 

 hot months they will take baits best about nine o'clock in 

 the morning, and three in the afternoon, both at bottom 

 and top ; and at all times best in rivers that run towards 

 the east, and have immediate communication with the 

 sea ; and in all places in clear water and windy weather, 

 especially when the wind blows against the stream. 



In angling for this monarch of our streams, the stint- 

 ing or foot-line, if single, must be of good, stout, round 

 gut, about three yards in length ; or, for large rivers and 

 heavier fish, when the water is not too bright, of platted 

 gut, the same as the casting-line. A plain reel, as repre- 

 sented in plate viii., should be used ; and not less than 

 sixty yards of good strong hair-line. You are about to 

 use a two-handed rod, say eighteen feet in length. Take 

 hold of it below the reel with your left hand, and with 

 your right grasp the butt about two feet further up. 

 Adopt the same system of right or left round casting 

 or throwing, as described for fly-fishing for trout. Sel- 

 dom have more line out than twice the length of your 

 rod; the shorter you can fish the more command you will 

 have. As Salmon are seldom found to rise from water 

 exceeding ten or twelve feet in depth> care should be 

 taken to fish all places which are underwrought with 

 rocks and holds, &c. Proceed as directed for trouting, 

 with care and circumspection, and show your fly to every 

 fish within your range by under-surface fishing. It is 

 supposed that a fish may see a fly four or five feet, that 



