THE SALMON. 59 



violent, you will rarely fail to hook your fish. On the con- 

 trary, the sudden jerk is seldom more or 'ess than a nibble; 

 you should therefore give a moderate pull, which will rather 

 excite your game, and induce him to call again for worms! 

 The following practical information, taken from " Fisher's 

 Angler's Souvenir," will give the reader some idea of the 

 manner of taking a large fish, after he is hooked ; for as it is 

 one thing to catch a fish and another to cook it, so it is one 

 thing to hook a fish and another thing to take him after you 

 get him on. " Judging fromhis pall, you estimate his weight 

 at 30 pounds, the largest and strongest, you verily believe, 

 you ever have hodked. With that headlong plunge, as if he 

 meant to bury his head in the gravelly bottom, he has hooked 

 himself. Your hook, which will hold 30 pounds dead weight, 

 is buried in his jaws to the bend, and now that he feels the 

 barb, he shoots up the stream with the swiftness of an arrow, 

 and fifty yards of your line are run off before you dare ven- 

 ture to check him. Now his speed is somewhat diminished, 

 hold on a little, and as the river side is clear of trees, follow 

 up after him, for it is bad policy to let out line to an unman- 

 ageable length, when you can follow your fish. There are 

 some awkward rocks towards the head of the pool, which 

 may cut your line ; turn him, therefore, as soon as you can. 

 Now is the time to show your tact, in putting your tackle to 

 test, without having it snapped by a sudden spring. Hold 

 gently — ease off a littie ; — now hold again — how beautifully 

 the rod bends, true from top to butt, in one uniform curve ! 

 He has a mouth, though bitted for the first time ! Bravo ! 

 his nose is down the water ! Lead him along — gently, he 

 grows restive, and is about again. Though his course is still 

 up the stream, he seems inclined to tack. Now he shoots 

 from bank to bank, like a Berwick smack turning up Sea 

 Reach in a gale of wind. Watch him well in stays, lest he 

 shoot suddenly ahead, and carry all away. He is nearing the 



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