1 74 ANGLING. 



is the angler's fish, par excellence, may be killed 

 easily enough with a light rod, but a heavier one 

 gives increased facility and power. The reel ought 

 to be sufficiently large to contain 80 or 90 yards, so 

 as to admit of abundance of line being given out 

 when required ; for many fish, when struck, run 

 out to a great distance, and with such immense 

 rapidity as to prevent the possibility of the angler's 

 moving in the proper direction with sufficient quick- 

 ness. A salmon, for the most part, darts violently 

 up the stream ; and, as the desired command is 

 more easily kept with a short than a long line, it 

 is advisable to prevent his getting too far ahead, 

 by keeping the rod well up, 45 and more, and by 

 running towards him along the margin. On gain- 

 ing the head of the current, he frequently throws 

 himself several times out of the water, on which 

 occasions the angler must yield him freely a little 

 of the line ; but, during his general and less vio- 

 lent manoeuvring, he will, of course, be the sooner 

 exhausted the more firmly he is held. When 

 he appears to be making for some safe haunt or 

 secret sheltering place, the great object is to turn 

 him towards safer ground, either by relying on 

 the soundness of the tackle, or, if he proves very 

 powerful as well as very obstinate, then a pebble or 

 two may be thrown so as to fall a little in advance 

 of his position, and he will probably turn himself 

 round. Some fish become very sulky, and will lie, 

 after being hooked, for a long time motionless near 

 the bottom. In this case also the pebbles must be 

 had recourse to, for the more a fish is kept in 



