The North Country Angler. 63 



managing your rod and line. Some pools are 

 shaded only here and there with a bush or two, 

 in such places )ou may fish with a line a yard, 

 or more, long ; hut you must be sure to make 

 your approach to such open places cautiously; 

 for the great fish lie very near the top of the 

 water, watching the fall of fiies or other insects 

 from the bushes, where they are bred or har- 

 boured : and though you do not see them, yet 

 they will see you at your first coming, and scud 

 away into the pool, and not return, perhaps, in 

 an hour's time. 



I have been often agreeably amused, sitting 

 behind a bush, that has hung over the water two 

 yards or more, and observing the t routs taking 

 their rounds, and patrolling in order^ according 

 to their quality. Sometimes I have seen three 

 or four private men coming up together under 

 the shade ; and presently an officer or man of 

 quality, twice as big, comes from his country 

 seat, under a bank or great stone, and rushes 

 among them as furiously as I once saw a young 

 justice of the peace do to three poor anglers; and 

 as I cannot approve of such proceedings, I have 

 with some extraordinary pleasure revenged the 

 weaker upon the stronger, by dropping in my 

 bait half a yard before him ; with what an air of 

 authority and grandeur have I seen the qualified, 

 what shall I call him, extend his jaws and take 

 in the delicious morsel, and then marching slowly 

 off in quest of more, till stopped by a smart 

 stroke which I have given him ; though there is 

 no occasion to do so in this way of fishing, for 

 Jhe great ones always hook themselves. 



