SALMON FISHING WITH THE FLY. 247 
fish can then be drawn into the bank, net and handle in the 
same position. On no account must the net be raised high out 
of the water ; if it is attempted to land fish in such a fashion the 
weight of the fish will soon tell on the hoop of the net and make 
it unfit for use. It must never be attempted to net a fish tail 
first ; he may be got into the net, but he has an awkward habit 
of. using his tail, and would be out of it again before you were 
aware. When once, however, his head and shoulders are in 
over the hoop he cannot escape. 
Many fishermen gaff their own fish, and will not on any 
account delegate this office to anyone else. To accept aid would 
deprive them of half their pleasure in fishing, and if they are of 
this opinion I think they are quite right; no doubt there is 
much excitement in gaffing one’s own fish, but it requires great 
skill and practice to be able to do it artistically. There is, how- 
ever, a certain amount of risk incurred, as when the line is wound 
up so short as it necessarily must be to enable the angler to reach 
his fish, if care is not taken to lower the point of the rod 
and slack the line the moment the gaff is in, the chances are 
the top will get smashed. This has happened to myself on 
several occasions, and the object being to get the fish safe on 
the bank, I prefer adopting the surer method of having my fish 
gaffed by my attendant. 
If it can be ascertained for a certainty that a fish is firmly 
hooked, and there is a beach anywhere handy, he can be 
stranded without the use of gaff or net, but this must not be 
attempted until the fish is quite ‘done’ and has not a kick in 
him. The angler must wait until he can get his head above 
water, and he can then run him in high and dry without 
a struggle. Jf he cannot completely ‘strand him’ thus, he can 
put down his rod and tail him; this is done by grasping him 
firmly just above his tail with the second finger and thumb. By 
this means he can be pulled out of the water without risk of 
escape, and carried to a place of safety ; but it is only salmon 
that can be landed in this way; the tails of all other fish, sea 
trout included, would slip through the fingers, and this is an 
