FLY FISHING IN THE SEA 161 



Both in Scotland and Norway I found the ' Thunder and Light- 

 ning ' particularly killing. 



The chief points, it seems to me, to be borne in mind in 

 connection with sea-trout fishing in the sea, is that the fish are 

 not less shy than in fresh water, and, like brown trout in 

 rivers, lie close to the shore ; as we approach the river, we find 

 them on the edge of the stream. 



There is a fish which is a sort of missing link between sea 

 trout and our good friend Fario. It has been named Salmo 

 estuarius, and in the estuary of the Shannon is known as the 

 slob trout. ' Slob,' a novel word which recently puzzled and 

 amused the House of Commons, is the local name for the vast 

 banks of mud that are disclosed at low water in the estuary, 

 many thousand acres of which have been lately reclaimed. 

 There is not much doubt that the slob trout is the ordinary 

 brown trout which, on account of the scarcity of food in his 

 own larder, pays visits to his marine friends. When there 

 comes a spate he will be found rushing up his native stream to 

 feed on whatever the flood may bring down. I once caught a 

 slob trout of a pound which, when knocked on the head, pro 

 ceeded to evolve a half-digested shrew mouse. 



This variety of fish is to all intents and purposes a brown 

 trout, with a silver sheen over his speckled sides, brought about 

 by residence in brackish or salt water. He takes the fly readily 

 enough in the estuary, but, having a knowledge of natural 

 winged and other insects, shows a preference for ordinary brown 

 trout flies rather than blue Doctors and other gaudy lures 

 favoured by the real original sea trout. 



Bass, which in the spring and summer are found in the sea, 

 but push up into estuaries in the autumn, take the fly best 

 when feeding on the herring fry. Here the tiro may naturally 

 say, ' Yes, it is all very well to tell me that ; but when are they 

 feeding on the herring fry ? How am I to find that out ? ' 



Y 



