THE SALMON FISHEK. 91 



as he walloped past him, once more in full career for 

 the centre pool, ready to renew the battle and pro- 

 long it for another twenty minutes or an hour. A. 

 good gaffer keeps quiet and out of the water and out 

 of sight as much as possible, makes no abrupt starts,, 

 watches every movement of the fish, and never makes* 

 a false coup. Clip ! splash ! there, he has him se- 

 curely on the iron ! Let your line run out now ad 

 libitum and give the strained rod a rest. You see > 

 the fly has actually dropped out of his mouth, so 

 that only skillful handling saved him: a good 

 twenty-pounder and a trophy to be proud oL 

 "Whack him sharply on the head with a billet and 

 give him his quietus; then you may contemplate 

 Jaim at your leisure. 



I do not take kindly to gaffs with the point re- 

 curved or turned outward. The point should be 

 parallel with the shank, that is to say, the line of 

 draft at the point should be parallel with the line of 

 draft on the shank and gaff handle. Its efficacy can 

 easily be tested by drawing the point of the hook 

 against the palm of the hand. The hook need not 

 exceed two and a half inches in the width of the 



