to the depth of a few feet, to prevent her drifting too rapidly
should there happen to be a heavy breeze on. The next thing is to get
the boat properly broadside to the wind, so that you may have next to no
trouble in casting. Should a fish be hooked, see that the man keeps
working the boat in such a manner that the fish cannot possibly get
underneath: a single stroke of the oar in the proper direction is
generally all that is necessary. You must also judge from the size of
the fish, and the length and strength of your tackle, whether it is
expedient that the man should follow the fish if he makes a very long
run. If your line happens to be short--which it will not be, if you have
followed the instructions given in Chapter III.--you need not be
surprised if you find nothing left but your rod and reel, your line, and
mayhap a "half-croon flee" flying about the loch in charge of a fish.
The management of the landing-net or gaff is another serious matter. If
the fish be small, tell the man to have the net ready, and "run it in;"
but if it is a good-sized fish, you must tell him not to put the net
near till he gets the word from you. Many a time we have suppressed an
exclamation--the reverse of a blessing--when we have seen the hoop of
the landing-net strike the fish, and were in suspense for a second or
two as to whether he was on or off. If the gaff is necessary, it is
almost as well to let your man hold the rod after you have tired the
fish thoroughly, and gaff him yourself. But if you think it unadvisable
to part with the rod, send the man to the other end of the boat from
yourself, and then lead the fish near him, so that he may have a fair
chance. He must put the gaff _over_ the fish till the point is in a
line with its broadside, and then with a sudden _jerk_ sink the steel
into, or even through, the animal, and lift him over the gunwale with
all possible speed. A sharp blow or two on the snout will deprive the
fish of life. Always kill your fish,--big or small,--as nothing ought to
be more repulsive to a true sportsman than to see or hear any animal he
has captured dying by inches.

It is perhaps needless to say that in the matter of lunch and drink, due
consideration should always be paid to your boatman's wants; indeed if
he has had a hard time of it rowing against a stiff breeze, nothing is
lost by landing at mid-day and letting him enjoy half an hour's rest and
a smoke after he has refreshed his inner man. Someti