THE TROUT 



Having arrived thus far in his stalk, the fisherman 

 began to cast, not wildly, but circumspectly, being 

 careful not to overcast at first. As has been related, 

 his first effort was short a sound fault, if fault it be 

 and having thus, like a good bowler, ' found out his 

 length,' the second attempt was altogether successful. 



The next move was to prevent the trout from 

 reaching his hover, or home, in the weeds near the 

 dam, and this being done, he gradually worked him 

 down-stream and landed him several yards below 

 where he was hooked. Again, the landing operation 

 was effected scientifically. The net was not taken off 

 its string or strap till the fish was tired out and prac- 

 tically killed, and no wild dives were made with it. 

 At the right moment it was placed gently in the 

 water below where the trout was, and the capture 

 easily effected. The fish was then at once killed, 

 either by knocking its head against the toe of his 

 wader, or by breaking its neck by inserting the thumb 

 in the upper jaw and bending the head back till the 

 neck-bone broke. Thus the whole affair was con- 

 ducted skilfully, deftly, and in order. No undue 

 excitement, no confusion, prevailed. 



What would in all likelihood have occurred if, 

 instead of an experienced fisherman, it had been a 

 young and unpractised hand who had essayed to kill 



