122 The American Salmon-fisherman. 



less obstructed than that in front of the angler. When 

 the rivers first ploughed their way to the sea, the conveni- 

 ence of the coming angler was not at all times duly con- 

 sidered. Not unfrequently some rocky cliff or high over- 

 grown bank so obstructs the back-cast, as to render it 

 of possible advantage only to the tackle-dealer. Some 

 method, then, of casting the fly which will dispense 

 with the back-cast is certainly desirable. 



Those who in their youth have not amused themselves 

 by throwing an apple from the end of a switch, can 

 easily imagine the process. If, either from memory or a 

 "scientific use of the imagination," a picture be drawn of' 

 what would be done were it desired to thus project the 

 missile at an angle of seventy-five degrees from the hori- 

 zon, we have it. By duplicating this motion with a sal- 

 mon rod, the desired result can be accomplished. 



With the aid of a favorable wind I have seen a very 

 long line cast in this way; but against the wind it is 

 efficient in the hands of but few, and that with but a 

 short line. It is somewhat splashy, and wanting in that 

 finished neatness a trout-fisherman loves to see; but the 

 splashing occurs in water already fished over, and it cer- 

 tainly will take fish. When the wind howls down stream, 

 arid casting in the ordinary manner becomes a nuisance 

 from the effect of the gale on the back-fly, then, and 

 when obstacles prevent the ordinary back-cast, the angler 

 will surely remember all the attention he has given to 

 this method of casting with great satisfaction. 



Perhaps more detail of direction may be of service. 

 Let us assume the fly is on the water, and that the time 

 has come to retrieve it for the back-cast. Permitting the 

 fly to look out for itself and without taking it off the 



