256 BRITISH FRESH- WATER FISHES 



rod ; besides which, the frequent casting required becomes 

 excessively fatiguing. 



No fish exceeds the salmon-trout in silvery lustre when 

 fresh from the sea, but they soon lose it in fresh water and 

 become dark and discoloured. Fig. 2, Plate X., shows a 

 salmon-trout weighing 1 8lb., taken from the Stanley water on 

 the Tay in June, 1902. 



As a rule good sport is only to be expected when the river 

 is subsiding after a flood ; but there are many lakes in Scotland 

 and Ireland where salmon-trout collect in great numbers and 

 give splendid sport. Even in rivers, when the water is dead 

 low, heavy baskets may be filled by fly-fishing at night. The 

 weather must be warm for this sport, and the daylight must 

 be quite gone, or as nearly gone as it ever is in the northern 

 counties in July and August. There are generally certain 

 pools just above the tide into which salmon-trout struggle 

 by scores in times of drought. Taking your stand at the 

 foot of one of these about ten o'clock, you may hear the 

 fish rattling the shingle as they scurry through the shallows. 

 Then cast a single fly it matters not whether white or black, 

 red or green up-stream into the pool ; you will see nothing, 

 for the pool itself is one expanse of blackness, or at most you 

 will discern but a sparkle of reflection from the stars, but 

 presently you hear a sound between a suck and a splash, or 

 maybe a spanking clatter in the water strike home, and you 

 are in him ! but keep a light finger on the line, for the slightest 

 check to one of his lightning rushes will smash the tackle, and 

 it is a grievous task to repair damages in the dark. At such 

 times even the best disciplined lips have been known to emit 

 deplorable ejaculations. 



To the novice in this mode of fishing it is exceedingly 

 fascinating. The mere fact of being abroad in the fragrant 

 night at an unfamiliar hour ; the silence, broken only by 

 the river tinkling over the shallows, by the distant throb 

 of the tide, or the cry of some passing night bird ; the 



