106 HOW TO STRIKE A FISH. 



the wrist than that of the arm, and that the latter should 

 only play a secondary part in the operation, and its move- 

 ments above the elbow be as limited as possible. And 

 again, allow me to warn the tyro, that his flies should 

 never on any account be dragged straight through the 

 water, either across or up stream, as I have occasionally 

 seen done, following each other like a procession of 

 corporation barges on the Thames, and leaving nearly 

 as conspicuous a wake behind them. On the contrary, 

 they must be allowed to perform a sort of semicircle 

 obliquely across the river, when each fly on the cast 

 will independently sweep its own particular portion 

 of water, and be offered in succession to the notice 

 of the fish as they pass, without making a sensible 

 ripple upon the surface. 



STRIKING. 



When the fish has taken the hook into its mouth, it 

 is necessary for the angler to fix it there by tightening 

 the line, or, as it is called, striking. To do this with 

 quickness and gentleness at the same time, both coolness 

 and practice are required, as the beginner who first makes 

 the experiment will find, after he has probably smashed 

 his rod half a dozen times, broken scores of lines, and lost 

 no end of fish. 



Some people with peculiarly excitable nerves never 

 can perfectly overcome the effect of having their equili- 

 brium upset, and of being thrown into such a flurry, 

 that all rational caution and presence of mind vanish 



