134 FISHING WITH THE FLY. 



him better than to have an angler under his roof : he 

 took possession of him and considered nothing too 

 much trouble, so long as he gave his guests good fish- 

 ing, clean beds, a square meal, and satisfaction. 



While supper was being prepared, we pleasantly 

 chatted over the prospect of sport, and the angler's aim 

 and ambition. He wanted a day or two of trouting, 

 and some roach fishing with a fly, as he had read some 

 letters giving an experience in fishing for these dainty 

 fish, and intended trying them. The inspection of a 

 well-filled fly-book showed how carefully he had selected 

 his stock. 



The early supper over, we strolled up the hillsides 

 overlooking this lovely vale. On the grassy downs we 

 seated ourselves, and I pointed out to him the various 

 fishing points ; yonder is a splendid reach where the 

 trout are always found ; see that sheeny rivulet coming 

 down through that clump of trees ! that is the best 

 trout stream in this section of country. 



Note the different water-courses. The canal runs 

 through the middle of the valley ; see here, clear away 

 to the west, a little brook comes tumbling in ; see just 

 below that point, a silvery-looking stream on the farther 

 side of the canal that is a fine trout stream ; follow its 

 course until it loses itself in that big clump of willows : 

 a saw-mill is hidden in those willows, and the stream, 

 after supplying the mill with power, drops into a cul- 

 vert under the bed of the canal ; there it is again in 

 that piece of open moorland ; there it is coming out 



