30 Scotch Lock-Fishing. 



the length and strength of your tackle, whether 

 it is expedient that the man should follow the 

 fish if he makes a very long run. If your line 

 happens to be short which it will not be, if 

 you have followed the instructions given in 

 Chapter III. you need not be surprised if you 

 find nothing left but your rod and reel, your 

 line, and mayhap a "half-croon flee" flying 

 about the loch in charge of a fish. The man- 

 agement of the landing-net or gaff is another 

 serious matter. If the fish be small, tell the man 

 to have the net ready, and " run it in ; " but if 

 it is a good-sized fish, you must tell him not to 

 put the net near till he gets the word from you. 

 Many a time we have suppressed an exclama- 

 tion the reverse of a blessing when we have 

 seen the hoop of the landing-net strike the fish, 

 and were in suspense for a second or two as to 

 whether he was on or off. If the gaff is neces- 

 sary, it is almost as well to let your man hold 

 the rod after you have tired the fish thoroughly, 

 and gaff him yourself. But if you think it un- 

 advisable to part with the rod, send the man to 

 the other end of the boat from yourself, and 

 then lead the fish near him, so that he may 

 have a fair chance. He must put the gaff over 



