30 THE WONDERFUL TROUT 



fish.' As Stewart points out, in angling 

 down-stream, 'if a trout rises and an angler 

 "strikes" he runs the risk of pulling the 

 flies straight out of its mouth, whereas in 

 fishing up, its back is to him and he has 

 every chance of bringing the hook into 

 contact with its jaws'(t>. p. 65). Later we 

 will speak of the colour of sky and cloud as 

 a factor in what is called 'short-rising' of 

 trout (and salmon) ; but meanwhile, apart 

 from these conditions, causes proofs, we 

 believe can be found in a fault in the 

 practice as pointed out by Stewart. 



Either in up- or down-stream fishing the 

 angler 'strikes/ as it is usually termed, or 

 gently raises his hand. Some ' strike from 

 the reel/ and to accommodate this class of 

 anglers the makers of the ' Requisites ' will 

 now meet him half-way. Except on rare 

 occasions we look upon this 'striking from 

 the reel' as only a clumsy excuse for too 

 excitable nerves and want of coolness and 

 self-possession. The advice by an onlooker 

 would probably be, if he wished to increase 

 the excitable condition of the angler, ' Don't 

 get excited : keep cool. Take a drink, and 



