THE INQLOBIOUS DEATH OF A THAMES TROUT. 109 



his mind. That word, to our shame be it told, was 

 '' Wum \" But given two novices at worm -hunting on 

 a baking hot day and a clay bank as hard as a brickbat, 

 it is far easier to put one's tongue on the word than 

 one's hand on the " Wum " ; and so it turned out with 

 us, for hunt as we might, not a vestige of worm could 

 Ave find j indeed, we were on the point of giving it up, 

 when an acquaintance who was in the habit of fishing 

 for barbel came in sight with his punt from below 

 stream. 



He sympathized with us in our difficulties, and came 

 to our relief in a practical manner, saying, " Try one of 

 these, just got 'em from Nottingham this morning ; " 

 so, without wishing to cast the blame of this deed of 

 darkness upon shoulders other than our own, his offer 

 decided the question of right or wrong. 



By these remarks be it not understood that we have 

 any wish to cast a slight upon worm-fishing proper — on 

 the contrary, as the worm is the right bait with which 

 to take certain fish just as the fly or live-bait is for 

 others; but we certainly are of opinion that to take 

 any of the Salmo species with the fly is a far more 

 sporting proceeding than with any other bait. 



We are quite prepared to hear it argued that worm- 

 fishing for trout in thin clear water is as difficult, 

 or more so, than casting the artificial fly ; and we are 

 ready to grant that it is, but at the same time cannot 

 alter our views on the subject. 



To continue, — we next put up one of the fly-rods^ 



