4 The North Country Angler. 



And here I advise the bush angler never to 

 let the fish get down his head, unless he is sure 

 there are no roots near enough for him ; but to 

 keep him at the top of the water, where his fins 

 and strength are of little service to hirn \ and 

 besides, he may thrust out his rod to reach beyond 

 the bush, and there work him till he is quite tired 

 and lies still. If you have a boy or companion 

 wifii you, you may call him; when I have any 

 such, I give them a long pole, like the root of 

 a fishing rod, with a large strong hook, either to 

 screw into the small end of it, or to wrap on to 

 it ; sometimes I have a landing net to screw into 

 the same pole, which should be two yards and a 

 half long. For the more safety, I used to take 

 the landing of the fish into my own hand. 



There are some other observations I have 

 made, which the angler may find the benefit of. 

 One is, that although the shade of trees and 

 bushes are much longer and greater on the south 

 or sun side of the river, than on the north, yet I 

 always found the most and the largest trouts on 

 that side ; I suppose the sun's being more intense 

 and warm on the north side, may occasion more 

 flies, erucas and insects to creep upon those 

 bushes, and consequently the more fish will 

 frequent them. 



Where the trees or bushes are very close, I ad- 

 vise the bush angler to take a hedging-bill or 

 hatchet, and cut off two or three branches here 

 and there, at proper places and distances, and so 

 make little convenient openings, at which he 

 may easily put in his rod and line ; but this is to 

 be done some time before you come to fish there. 



