264 THE TROUT ARE RISING 



as if the father of all Bushman's trout was on. 

 Yet, when the fish appeared on the surface some 

 time before being beaten it was clear that he did 

 not exceed a pound weight. The secret was ex- 

 plained on his nearing the net ; he was foul- 

 hooked in the anal fin. 



Another time, a trout of some three-quarters of 

 a pound was hooked, and on the line being reeled in 

 he simply spun round and round in the water like 

 a teetotum. He, too, was foul-hooked close to 

 the tail. Further details cannot be given, because 

 just about netting-time he made a last furious 

 effort, which gave him his liberty. I said no, I 

 said nothing. I remembered, however, the story 

 of the American. He had just lost a real big one 

 and he called the attention of a friend, with whom 

 he was fishing, to a foaming, savage rapid, saying : 

 " You see that ! Well, it mildly represents the 

 internal situation ! " 



New grass was peeping through the fire-burnt 

 patches, and gradually the veld was greening. 

 Lawns of freshest grass sloped here and there, and 

 willows attained to perfection of verdure. An hour 

 before sundown, if nowindwasblowing,a great calm 

 came. Infinite peace reigned in those vast spaces. 



Some excellent fly-fishermen farm alongside 

 the Bushman's. They are men who understand 

 the ways of a trout, use fine, sound tackle, cast a 

 fly with judgment, and strike, hook, and play their 

 fish in good style. Useful flies are the Mooi 

 moth, governor, coachman, a fly known locally as 

 Kerr's special, teal and yellow, woodcock-and- 

 hareVrar, blue upright, and Hardy's favourite. 



