134 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



many places it is not easy to get along. Nevertheless 

 there is grand trout-water all the way down to Catsclint, 

 but it is almost essential to wade deep. The river is 

 perhaps eighty or one hundred feet wide. One of the 

 visitors related an amusing tale one evening. He had 

 taken the cobbler of the village out with him. The latter 

 was in the middle of the river having some sport, when 

 the gentleman came up and called out "Thompson, I 

 can't wade .there." Thompson looked at his own stock- 

 ings and replied, " Oh yes, sir, come in ! I've an inch to 

 spare!" The gentleman, who stands about five feet six 

 inches, while the shoemaker is an immense fellow of six 

 feet and a half, notwithstanding this assurance, declined 

 to venture. 



I had only two full days, my friend having unex- 

 pectedly to return. I decided to go with him, for the 

 weather was wet and the river already too large and 

 brown. The fish we caught were few in number, but of a 

 good average size, over half a pound each. Fish of 

 three quarters are commonly taken, and daily some of a 

 pound. Large baskets are frequently made. A friend 

 of mine caught, on Whit-Monday, fourteen pounds. 

 The flies used are hackles, such as are made by 

 Hutchinson, of Kendal, for the river Kent, on No. 3 

 hooks. The mottled feather of the partridge, with dark 

 body, is a particular favourite. Dark snipe, with purple 

 body, is also good. I have generally found that 

 Hutchinson's light and dark snipe hackles, with purple, 

 orange, and yellow bodies, will take fish on any river. 



Makinsf allowance for the want of furniture in the 



