150 The American Salmon-fisherman. 



After a salmon is fastened, though its play is horse- 

 play yes, wild-horse-play compared to that of a trout, 

 the skilled trout-fisherman will feel no apprehension that 

 the struggle will eventuate in his disfavor. It is not till 

 taught by the logic of events that he learns that one is 

 never sure of a salmon until it has been knocked on the 

 head. When a trout takes a fly it is usually in earnest, 

 and, if the angler is prompt to respond, a good solid hold 

 for the hook is generally secured. It seems to me that 

 this is nothing nearly so likely to be the case in salmon- 

 fishing. The hold of the hook is often by but a mere 

 shred of skin, and he who assumes that his lien on each 

 fish depends upon a no more secure tenure will find his 

 profit therein. 



The same patient skill and the very same tactics that 

 worry the stanchest trout to exhaustion, will conquer the 

 largest salmon. More time will be required, and more 

 promptness, coolness, and resolution, but the process is 

 the same. 



Two defences are almost as common to the salmon as 

 the fins on their back, which trout employ but sparingly. 

 They jump and they "jig" with an energy that leaves 

 nothing to be desired except that they will stop. 



A notion prevails that when a fish jumps from the 

 water it may fall on the leader and part it unless the line 

 is slacked indeed some claim this to be the very object 

 of the manoeuvre. I am quite at a loss to see how this 

 miracle is to be performed. Should a man rigidly secure 

 one end of a rope long enough to reach the ground, and 

 tie the other around his waist, and should he then jump 

 from a window, by what conceivable gyration conducted 



