THBTARPON 81 



would think. The rod should be kept nearly at right 

 angles to the line of resistance and when the strain on 

 the rod approaches the danger point the line should 

 be released by lessening the pressure of the thumb 

 upon the reel pad. 



A little practice gives confidence and soon one learns 

 to put up a stout resistance to the fish. A rubber butt- 

 pad is very convenient, for the butt should be pressed 

 against the body. A butt rest, either on the upper- 

 side of the angler's chair-seat or strapped around 

 his body, is not essential. Patience and coolness will 

 finally conquer any fish if he can be kept on but 

 numerous accidents befall one and many fish are lost. 

 It is not the kind of tackle to employ when fish are 

 scarce or reluctant to come to hook. The angler will 

 need plenty of sea room for he must follow the fish to 

 keep his line. In crowded waters an angler using very 

 light line is a first-class nuisance to his fellow anglers. 



One word more. If the fish can be induced to make 

 the fight over a sandy bottom the chances of its cap- 

 ture are much better, for many are lost by the line be- 

 ing chafed off by rocks when the fish changes direction 

 and pulls the line over the bottom. As a rule, the 

 shorter the line the fish is played on the better the 

 chances of its capture. A quiet sea simplifies the task. 



As I write these lines I am reminded of a remark 

 made by that veteran angler. Viscount Gray, in his 

 classic book on Fly-Fishing: 



"There is only one theory about angling in 

 which I have perfect confidence, and that is that 

 the two words, least appropriate to any statement 



