BOAT FISHING 77 



rock should be known to the oarsman, who should 

 not merely be able to tell you exactly where you may 

 expect the fish to rise, but also should avoid un- 

 necessarily disturbing a likely place with his strokes or 

 the boat. So, too, the wielder of the rod may have 

 quite as long and difficult a cast to make as if he was 

 on the bank, except that he has not got to avoid 

 overhanging branches or a precipitous bank behind 

 him. He has also the supreme satisfaction of 

 knowing either from his own past experience, or from 

 information received at the time, the precise spots 

 where he should exercise the greatest caution and 

 deliberation, and feel the strongest expectation and 

 hope. Mere ' chuck and chance it ' work is never 

 very satisfactory, and a long monotonous pool or 

 stream, though it may be very productive, loses half 

 its charm if each successive cast is or ought to be a 

 complete replica of the one before it, and as likely to 

 be followed by a break in the surface and a tight 

 line. 



A different method of boat-fishing is pursued on 

 Tweed. There also you have a wide stream, a strong 

 current, and great depth in many places, and wading 

 and bank fishing is in most spots quite impossible. 

 The precipitous sandstone banks and overhanging 

 trees which give such a charm to the landscape at 



