28 TROUT-FISHING IN BROOKS 



catching trout there ; they seek hiding-places at 

 once. This is well known to fishers of rivers, and 

 how much more does it affect success in a narrow 

 stream ! Without bothering about the solar 

 system or the earth's motion, let me simply say 

 that the sun must be kept in front, or as nearly so 

 as may be, and never be at the rear of the brook 

 artist. It is heart-breaking work to try and 

 dodge a rear sun upon a gradually sloping bank, 

 troublesome anywhere, and next to useless every- 

 where. The best thing to do when the sun plays 

 upon one side of the stream is to cross over, even 

 if the other side affords fewer spots for going to 

 work. 



There are sure to be mills on a brook, or one 

 mill, anyhow, and mills require leats or feeders 

 for their wheels. A portion of the stream is 

 therefore deleted, and brought down an artificial 

 channel to work the mill. This is an unavoidable 

 nuisance, and if the mill be not working and 

 waiting till its leat fills up, miles of water below 

 will be doubly low in summer. But when the 

 wheel begins to work, the fisherman below had 

 better look out, for the liberated water rushing 

 down carries many dainties with it. The trout 

 know this, and commence to feed straightaway. 

 The leats themselves hold more or less trout, which 



