78 BUSH OR SHADE FISHING. 



baits, earth grubs, cowplat grubs, &c., and a horn 

 with May-flies as long as they are to be /ound, 

 beetles, or large moths, &c. Some of these, how- 

 ever, you should have. 



Next, for your line, you must provide good strong 

 Indian grass, or silkworm gut, though I would 

 rather recommend a good silk line ; and, as the best 

 of all, a line made of swine's bristles. 



This should not be above a yard long ; and where 

 there is some difficulty in getting your top rod 

 through the bushes, not above half a yard, which, 

 when baited, you may wrap loosely seven or eight 

 times about the rod top ; and when you have thrust 

 it beyond the bush, turn it round as many times, 

 and let the bait drop into the water. 



There is a great deal of caution necessary in 

 managing your rod and line. Some pools are shaded 

 only here and there with a bush or two. In such 

 places, you may fish with a line a yard long or more ; 

 but be sure to make your approaches cautiously ; for 

 the great fish lie very near the top of the water, 

 watching the fall of flies or other insects from the 

 bushes where they are bred or harboured. Though 

 you do not see them, they will see you at your first 

 coming, and scud away into the pool, not returning, 

 perhaps, for an hour. 



I have been often agreeably amused, sitting be- 

 hind a bush that has hung over the water two yards 

 or more, to observe the trouts taking their rounds, 

 and patrolling in order, according to their quality. 

 Sometimes I have seen three or four private men 



