64 TROUT-FISHING IN BROOKS 



are, therefore, an unusual presentment, and so 

 liable to be regarded with suspicion. Far be it 

 from me to say that they will not take trout. I 

 should be flying in the face of many high 

 authorities. As a matter of fact, I have killed 

 some thousands of trout with them, but I believe 

 I should have doubled the number by the use of 

 more common products. 



My conversion came about like this. On an 

 Irish brook I encountered a coarsely-equipped 

 peasant who was getting several fine sea-trout 

 where I had entirely failed with brandlings. On 

 my showing him my baits, he said, " Yerrah, 

 them things are no use at all, at all, only for little 

 trouts." Again, fishing a brook in spate near its 

 junction with a Killarney river, I was only getting 

 half-hearted nibbles, and now and then a 

 happening small fish, when I chanced on a water 

 bailiff also fishing. It was free water and this 

 man's reputation was great. Well, he showed me 

 his catch, and I got the surprise of my life. 

 Beside three trout of quite the 2 lb., three a little 

 less and at least six over the i lb., his capacious 

 creel disclosed other sizeable fish. I complained 

 of my bad luck. " Faith," said he, " you can't 

 expect betther wid them things " (alluding to the 

 brandlings). " See, here's the sort I always 



