36 THE METROPOLITAN STRAIGHT CAST. 



reason, that the trout-fisher, having thrown across 

 the water fairly opposite to him, can work his 

 flies down with the current, whilst the salmon-fly 

 cannot be so worked. If the attempt were made, 

 the salmon-fly would either roll over as it went 

 with the current, or it would float down irregu- 

 larly on its side. At any rate, its feathers and 

 fibres would be sometimes all of a heap, and some- 

 times spreading and sprawling in the water, ter- 

 rifying rather than attracting fish. 



The cast I have been just commenting on is 

 practised, but somewhat dififerently, by London 

 fly -fishers for trout. They do not — I mean those 

 who have learnt the style recently in fashion on 

 the metropolitan counties' rivers — bring the rod 

 and line round over either shoulder, but straight 

 backwards over the right clavicle, and balancing 

 them over it by two or three bold movements of 

 the rod and line backwards and forwards, they 

 finally fling straight before them vigorously ; and, 

 though the winch-line touches the water first, the 

 casting-line is driven forwards to a very con- 

 siderable distance. I do not think this method 

 should be contemned. By its means, fish rising 

 far from one, can be reached ; but it labours under 

 a disadvantage, viz., that it cannot be well prac- 

 tised unless from the right shoulder, and that 



