FISHING GENERALITIES 107 



There are, however, certain rules with respect to all 

 trout fishing, whether with fly or worm, which should 

 be observed by every fisherman. The first is, when 

 fishing for trout to keep as far from the bank and as 

 much out of sight as possible; the second is, to 

 persevere, remembering the old saying that ' He who 

 keeps his fly on the water longest kills most fish.' 

 The third is, never to be in a hurry ; more fish have 

 been lost from this cause than from almost any 

 other. If he who goes a-fishing will remember these 

 general principles, and each time that he is by the 

 riverside will carefully study the peculiarities of the 

 fish on that particular day, and the variety and ap- 

 pearance of the natural insects which hover around 

 him, he will soon become a master even among those 

 who have always regarded with enthusiasm, and prac- 

 tised with success, the most enthralling, graceful, and 

 delightful art of trout fishing. 



The question what is the best weather for fish- 

 ing is one which has been warmly discussed by 

 anglers ever since rods and lines were invented ; but 

 we seem to be as far off as ever we were from the 

 acquirement of accurate knowledge on this subject. 



Perhaps it is as well that this should be so, for 

 what a depressing affair fishing would become if, by a 

 glance at the weathercock, and another at the ther- 



