HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



in the tributary streams which should make excellent 

 spawning beds. As the stream increases in volume there 

 are deep rocky pools, big enough to hold salmon, long 

 stretches of slack deep water, enticing stickles, and some 

 fine waterfalls; in fact every sort of water to tempt the 

 trout. And in addition to this, the stream flows through 

 glorious country. No description that I can write would 

 ever do justice to it. To give a rough general idea 

 imagine Exmoor from six to seven thousand feet above 

 sea-level with " patna " grass instead of heather. 



The two small streams at Nuwara Eliya flow into lakes, 

 the outlets from which are practically blocked against fish 

 attempting to descend. The Horton Plains and Ambawella 

 streams end, so far as trout fishing is concerned, abruptly as 

 huge waterfalls, down which no fish is likely to descend 

 voluntarily. This, I think, accounts for the fact that rain- 

 bow trout have been so successful in these streams. They 

 cannot escape, as they have done from so many English 

 waters in which they have been tried. 



In the streams fly only is allowed, a No. 6 hook, 

 Redditch scale, being the largest size permissible. A 

 No. 6 hook is a large one, and permits small salmon 

 flies being used. This may seem like " poaching " to 

 some people, and perhaps the size might with advantage 

 be reduced. But it must be remembered that the fish 

 are not free risers. There is too much bottom food, and 

 not enough surface food. And in the big pools a small fly 

 passes unnoticed a long way above the fishes' heads. For 

 brown trout I have found a good-sized March Brown do as 

 well as anything. The rainbows undoubtedly prefer some- 

 thing brighter, and few flies are better than a very small 

 Silver Doctor; and though other fishermen may prefer 

 other flies, I would always take these two with me, whatever 



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