CLEAR WATERS 



expressed surprise, but did not of course venture more, 

 being then almost a stranger to the locality. For all 

 that, I myself mounted a small orange dun of the 

 Dee pattern, which insect during the previous fort- 

 night on that noble river I had found, as I have often 

 found since, extremely killing. Thereupon we parted 

 till lunch-time to fish separate parts of the stream, 

 and just as I was commencing operations the keeper 

 turned up. He confessed himself a fisherman, so I 

 broached the question of flies, and he inspected my 

 cast mounted with the small orange dun and some 

 other flies of the same caHbre. * These are no good, 

 sir,' said he ; * you v/ill never do anything with them 

 here, they are far too small. Here are the flies we 

 use.' Whereupon he pulled out his book and exhibited 

 some samples hke my young friend's, and far larger 

 than anything I had ever used or seen used for brook 

 trout. In spite of the fixed local tradition, for which, 

 as a rule, I have a profound respect, I rejected his 

 offer of some, though not without qualms, and stuck 

 to the small duns, which, as a matter of fact, were 

 of normal size as things are now accounted. We 

 parted, and I began to catch fish at once. When I 

 had finished my stretch of water about sandwich- time, 

 I had eighteen or twenty trout in my basket, so I 

 reeled up and returned to the agreed-upon midday 

 trysting-place, thinking what a fine lot we should 

 have between us by evening. On my way I encoun- 

 tered a strange angler, who began at once to curse 

 the heavens above and the waters beneath and every- 

 thing he could think of for the poor sport he was 

 having. I asked to see his flies, which proved to be, 

 158 



