354 THE KEEPERS BOOK 



breaks them. The fish should always be killed before 

 being laid down in the boat, or the hooks may stick in 

 the bottom of the boat and get broken. Grilse of small 

 size are difficult to gaff; they are much easier netted. 

 Salmon up to 40 Ib. can be netted, but over this weight 

 it is safer to use the gaff. 



In netting, the net should be quietly put under the 

 fish, lifted up, and then pulled towards the shore. This 

 is infinitely better than lifting it clear of the water and 

 bringing the whole weight of the fish on the net. The 

 great thing to remember is to get the head of the fish 

 away from the side of the net before lifting. If this is 

 not done the hooks are apt to catch in the net, the head 

 does not get down, the tail part falls over the ring, the 

 fish is outside, the hooks are attached to the net, there 

 are one or two wriggles, and the fish is gone. A gillie 

 should never attempt to net or gaff a fish while wearing 

 white sleeves, nor run up and down after a fish ; he 

 should rather wait quietly in one place and reach out 

 the gaff when the fish passes him. Many a time when 

 alone I have dirtied the water by stirring up the mud 

 at the side with my feet ; when the fish has been guided 

 into the muddy water it cannot see any one, and the 

 gillie is therefore quite safe in walking in and gafBng it. 



Another opportunity of gafBng a fish may be 

 obtained when the fish's head is out of the water, for 

 in that position it cannot see. If both the gaff and net 

 have been accidentally left behind, the best way of land- 

 ing a fish is by first tiring it out and getting it to turn 





