224 ANGLING. 



moths and other nocturnal insects, which during 

 the summer months are abundant on the waters. 

 In throwing the line the angler should endeavour 

 to make his gear fall as lightly as possible on the 

 surface, and his flies should drop opposite, or some- 

 what above his own position, and then be played 

 gently and neatly downwards and across the stream. 

 When a trout is seen to rise at a natural fly or 

 other insect, the artificial one should be offered him 

 by being thrown, not directly over him, but about 

 a yard higher up the stream ; and, if he is inclined 

 to rise again, he will probably meet it half-way. 

 When a fish, on being hooked, descends beneath 

 the surface, and struggles in the depths below, it is 

 a pretty sure sign that he is well secured; but 

 when he flounders on the surface, or leaps oc- 

 casionally into the air, more care is necessary, as 

 in that case the hook will frequently be found to 

 be only skin-deep. In playing and landing a large 

 trout the same precautions are necessary as in sal- 

 mon-fishing, although in regard to smaller fish, if 

 the angler is standing in the centre of a stream, 

 and finds it inconvenient to wade frequently ashore, 

 a few additional turns will exhaust the capture, 

 which may then be drawn rapidly and steadily 

 to hand, and secured by a firm grasp behind the 

 gills. We have not unfrequently practised a sum- 

 mary method of landing even tolerably large fish, 

 which, though it cannot always be effected, is when 

 practicable a great saving of time. If, from the 

 moment the trout is struck, he is prevented from 

 redescending in such a manner that the upper part 



