CHAPTER IV 



RIVER PRESERVING AND RIVER POACHING 



A RIVER-KEEPER who is thoroughly conversant with 

 the habits and requirements of trout, who recognises 

 at once the various flies as in due season they appear, 

 and who notices what amount of weed there is in 

 the river, how much should be cut and how much left, 

 is indeed a treasure, and ought to be valued by his 

 employer accordingly. 



An expert in these matters will almost instinc- 

 tively be aware that, to keep the river at a proper level 

 both for fishing purposes and for the benefit of the 

 farmers who hold riverside farms, a certain amount 

 of weed and water plants is essential. He should 

 consider whether the past winter and spring have 

 been wet or dry, and calculate how much weed-cutting 

 may judiciously be done to render the river fishable, 

 while not removing so much as would cause the 

 water to fall unduly and in consequence deprive 

 the fish of their requisite shelter and food-producing 



