SALMON-FISHING. 355 



towards you, he should get some slack in the line, and then 

 suddenly turn and rush down stream. 



By undue pressure, I mean other resistance to the line 

 passing out, than is caused by a moderately stiff click in the 

 reel, or by that slight uniform pressure of the finger on the 

 line, or of the thumb on the reel, which only an angler of 

 experience with perfeet self-possession can give. 



Some Salmon-fishers use reels without a bearing of any 

 kind, depending on this acquired delicacy of touch ; but the 

 only safe plan is to have one with a click, for the click bears 

 continually and without variation ; and this is all the resistance 

 that it is prudent for the angler to offer in playing a Salmon. 

 And it is wonderful how slight this resistance is, when we 

 consider what it accomplishes, for combined with the unceas- 

 ing bearing of a springy rod, it wearies out and completely 

 exhausts a powerful fish, even' when assisted by a strong 

 current. I have stated on a preceding page, that the resist- 

 ance of the click, with the friction on the line in passing 

 through the rings, does not exceed twelve ounces, and men- 

 tion the result of the simple experiment here, to show how 

 small a strain there is on the rod and line when a Salmon is 

 properly managed, and to convince the novice how violence 

 lessens the chances of securing his prize. 



When a Salmon takes the fly, he generally goes to the 

 bottom, and on the instant evinces little or perhaps no, 

 alarm, pausing for a few moments as if astonished, or 

 moving off slowly and generally a little way up stream. 

 During this brief space of time the angler has opportunity to 

 put on that self-possession which he will require before the 

 fight is over. If the fish swims against the current, the point 

 of the rod should be turned in the opposite direction. 

 Presently he may drop down stream, not usually with head- 

 long speed, but gradually, when it is necessary to wind up, 



