SALMON ANGLING. Ill 



line on a broad smooth pool, where he can see that 

 it is delivered out properly, and falls lightly without 

 splashing. In such case the practitioner will perceive 

 something which he cannot easily account for : and 

 that is, that after he has even attained a great degree 

 of perfection in the art, he will not be able to dis- 

 tinguish how it happens, that in one throw his long 

 line will proceed tightly out, his fly alighting first on 

 the water, and in another throw the middle of his 

 line will fall first, while the farther part, still obedi- 

 ent to the general impulse, will proceed out the full 

 length, the fly falling the last on the surface. This 

 last throw is not so good as the former, for the reason, 

 that the main current having caught the middle of 

 the line first, it carries it too quickly down, leaving 

 the fly lagging and forming an awkward curve ; for, 

 before it comes over above the fish, the fly should 

 lie on the water, so as to have the appearance of 

 plying at an angle against the current. And the 

 angler should so manage his rod that, while he lets 

 his line float round at its full length, his fly should 

 come as slowly as possible over the main spot. In 

 this case the salmon will sometimes rise at once, 

 rather before you expect him, but more generally will 

 follow the fly to the eddy, or edge of the deep, where, 

 if on examination he feel disposed to seize the hook. 



