gaff, because, being below the fish, it cannot see 

 you as it comes toward the canoe. The latter 

 method is unhandy, as it invariably necessitates 

 either turning around or changing your seat 



A salmon is usually landed in from ten to 

 twenty-five minutes. There are exceptions, of 

 course, but with good management I think thirty 

 minutes is time enough to land any salmon, unless 

 he is hooked outside of the mouth. Should you 

 come to a long stretch of swift-running water, and 

 find the fish is bound to go down-stream, it is 

 great sport to chase him, at the same time reeling 

 up all the line you possibly can. When yon have 

 brought him to the surface, which you can easily 

 do, let your men paddle a little faster and gaff t h.- 

 salmon in the current It is much more exciting 

 and requires more nerve than pulling him about 

 in some quiet eddy until ready for the gaff. Do 

 not allow canoemen to use it until the fish is close 

 to the canoe. They have a way of reaching out 

 and gaffing at arm's length, which is a bad and 

 dangerous thing to do, as it might cause an upset. 

 The best place to gaff a salmon is in the shoulder, 

 and always back of the leader. It takes a littl 

 more time, but the fish is more apt to be saved 

 and the leader less likely to be broken. When 

 once you have risen a salmon and he misses the 

 fly, cast again ; and if he rises two or three times 

 more before he yields to the little trap above. 



50 



