SPRING. 41 



them as they swim ; and when a quick current, or impedi- 

 ments ashore leave no alternative, will do the best 

 within his power, down-stream, underhand, or by that 

 curious pitch which the angler learns to make with effect 

 when he has an obstacle at his back. When he has 

 achieved the art of throwing a fly without frightening away 

 the fish he has conquered the primary difficulty. 



April brings an opening day for the Thames trout-fisher. 

 The Thames trout, by careful preservation and the intro- 

 duction of new stock, have not for many years given so 

 good an account of themselves as during the season of 

 1883, and even after its close on the 15th September, a 

 provokingly large quantity took a fancy to the baits of 

 barbel-fishers, who returned them, as in duty bound, to 

 the river. Trouting on the Thames is, however, indulged 

 in by the few rather than the many. Only the most 

 patient men follow it through evil and good report. It 

 makes an abnormal draft upon human faith ; it is a some- 

 what sedentary occupation, as followed by modern masters. 

 Now and then this notable fish is taken with an artificial 

 fly, but fly-fishing is seldom practised by the regular Thames 

 trout angler. You will find this worthy mostly perched 

 above the head of one of the weirs, of which Boveney is a 

 more than average sample, spinning a bleak in the streams 

 and rough water under his feet, not, however, if he under- 

 stand his business, leaving the bait to work its own restless 

 will, and fruitlessly revolve on the top of the foam, but 

 cleverly humouring it right and left, in eddies, down the 

 current, and so making it dart and move that its action 

 is calculated to deceive the very elect amongst Thames 

 trout, the most knowing perhaps of any of the Fario 

 family. 



Spinning for Thames trout, whether from weir or boat, 



