256 PLAYING A FISH. 



off across the river, as he will most likely do, the line 

 must be let out according as is required, maintaining all 

 the time a sufficient pressure upon it between the fingers 

 and the rod, to retain the two upper joints of the latter 

 bent in the form of a bow ; but by no means make the 

 strain so severe as to endanger either rod, line, or hold. 

 This requires a little judgment on the part of the 

 angler. On the other hand, should Salmo change his 

 tactics, and rush straight at his tormentor's feet, as he 

 frequently does, the sportsman must alter his as well, 

 and retreat in this case as fast backwards as his legs 

 can assume a retrograde motion, keeping the rod in the 

 same position, with the same strain on the line, until he 

 can conveniently reel up, without abating his pull upon 

 the fish, which ought to be uniform and constant from 

 the moment of first hooking until the victim is gaffed, 

 without ever suffering the line to slacken, or the top of 

 the rod to unbend for an instant, unless it is just a 

 momentary relaxation during each vault into the air. 

 When a fish springs furiously into the air, and en- 

 deavours to strike the line with his tail, as a salmon 

 invariably does shortly after being struck, the pull must 

 be instantly relaxed the top of the rod lowered and 

 thrown forward towards the fish and the line allowed 

 to run freely out, otherwise certain destruction will 

 happen to either rod, line, or hold ; but the moment he 

 again falls into the water, the strain must be instantly 

 resumed. This is at all times a dangerous manoeuvre 

 on the part of a salmon, and one by which more fish 

 are lost than by any other mischance. Again, should 



