466 MANUAL FOR YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 
The gaff is to be used in the following manner :— 
When the salmon has been thoroughly exhausted by his 
efforts to free himself from the hook, in which he has been 
opposed by the elastic resistance offered by the rod, he is 
brought near the bank, still keeping the butt-end of the 
rod well advanced; and the assistant then proceeds to 
strike the gaff into the shoulder of the fish, or if he uses 
the single hook, to insert it into the gill-cover. The latter 
plan is the least injurious to the beauty of the fish, and in 
skilful hands will answer every purpose. In all cases, 
however, the assistant should keep out of sight until the 
angler is satisfied, by the yielding of the fish, that it is safe 
for him to approach, for a neglect of this precaution leads 
to the loss of many a fish. The assistant attempting to 
strike him before he is spent only makes him desperate ; 
and the efforts to escape, which before this were within 
bounds, and under the control of the angler, are now 
rendered madly violent. ‘This tries even good tackle too 
far, and either the hook itself or the gut gives way, or else 
the hold on the fish actually tears away. Tact and experi- 
ence are the only safe guides in this delicate point, and 
without them apparent victory often ends in defeat. 
Instead of the gaff or hook, the landing-net is much used ; 
and in the South, as well as in Wales, is perhaps more in 
; vogue than the gaff. The only objection is its size; but as 
both must be carried by an assistant, since neither can be 
well managed by the angler himself, this is really of little 
consequence. If, however, the angler is either unable or 
unwilling to obtain an assistant, the hook with sliding 
stick is the best instrument for the purpose; but even 
