464 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 
motion must be carried out with as much power as the 
fisher considers his tackle will bear; always remembering 
to give way by releasing the line, when the strain is too 
great for it to bear, and when the fish is resolutely bent 
upon running. But this exact calculation as to restrain- 
ing or giving way is sometimes very difficult, especially as 
the size of the fish is no certain index to his power; nor 
can the size always be correctly estimated at the first 
commencement of the struggle, especially by the tyro at 
this kind of sport. A lively and fresh-run fish will appear 
twice as big as he really is, whilst a large but dull one will 
sometimes deceive his pursuer into the belief that he is 
weak and powerless, and then, in a fit of desperation, he 
will show his real size and capabilities by breaking away 
with a long line towing astern. Mr. Stoddart’s directions 
for playing the salmon are so good, that I am tempted to 
quote them in his own words :—“ Always in running a 
fish, keep well up to, or, if possible, at right angles with 
its head. In the event of its taking across the current, 
instead of stemming or descending it, give the butt with- 
out reserve. In the case of a plunge or somerset, slacken 
line as quickly as possible, but lose no time in recovering 
it when the danger is over. When fish are plentiful, and 
in the humor to take the fly, it is better to risk the loss 
of an indifferent-sized individual which you happen to have 
hooked, than to allow a long range of unfished water to 
become disturbed through its capricious movements. In 
this case stint the line and hold on obdurately, but not 
beyond the presumed strength of your tackle. During 
the grilse season there are many portions of water, on 
