54 Scotch Loch-Fishing. 



the grossest carelessness? The fish may be 

 loosely hooked, and get off, but this is quite 

 a matter of chance, and the odds are that a 

 hungry spring fish will not miss the lure. 

 Thus the charm of salmon - fishing is in the 

 raising and striking ; and of all kinds of 

 striking, the striking of the salmon is the most 

 difficult : the fish being so large and silvery, the 

 angler is certain to see him coming at the fly, 

 and is very apt to strike too soon. But if it is 

 borne in mind to strike after the broken water 

 is visible, and not before it, this will soon be 

 overcome. When you do strike, don't let it 

 be a mere tightening of the line, as in trout- 

 fishing, but a decided stroke. Some say that 

 the salmon will hook himself by his own 

 weight. This may be so, though we doubt 

 it, but don't trust to it. Certain it is, that 

 the first rush of a fish does not usually fix 

 him certain ; and should the hook happen to 

 be in a piece of hard gristle or on a bone, you 

 will soon find this out for yourself, but gener- 

 ally at the cost of the fish. 



Salmon-fishing is an expensive luxury ; but 

 if you can get it good, never mind the expense, 

 but give it a trial. If you get good sport, you 



