i6o MODES OF APPROACH 



If the salmon missed the fly, he did so 

 intentionally. What is the proportion, I 

 wonder, of rises to one salmon that is hooked ? 



A salmon rising with real intent to capture 

 the slowly moving object would not, I believe, 

 miss it once in lOO times, whereas, in actual 

 practice, the " misses " far outnumber the 

 " hits." 



We observe that the fish has several modes 

 of approach and attack. Sometimes he rises, 

 apparently, at the first offer in a determined 

 manner, which is considered the best kind of 

 rise. At another time he makes several feints 

 before finally catching hold (as described). 

 Then again, he is distinctly seen to follow the 

 lure slowly right across the river, repeating 

 the performance at each succeeding " cast." 

 In this case the fish rarely takes hold. Some- 

 times the salmon will come with a rush, head 

 and shoulders out of water, throwing himself 

 on top of the fly, apparently with intent to 

 drown it. The angler " strikes," but, as a 

 rule, the fly comes back without resistance, 

 though there is always the off chance of foul- 

 hooking the fish, which, as a matter of fact, 

 does occur not infrequently. 



To my mind these various performances 

 suggest that the salmon is not out for food, 

 but is attracted by curiosity which culminates 



