WITH TROUT FISHING. 161 



for snipes in places which are not frozen. I have always 

 found, that the worst time to shoot snipes is in a white 

 frost, as these birds then generally take to the uplands, 

 or get into some rivulet, in small whisps, or flocks, and 

 spring up all together, instead of being well dispersed, 

 and thereby affording a number of shots, as they do in 

 boisterous weather. But, after & frost has brought the 

 snipes into the country, you are pretty sure of good 

 sport on ihejirst open windy day that follows it. Stick 

 to these birds when once you find them, as they may all 

 disappear in one night. 



Before I conclude under the head of " snipe shoot- 

 ing," I am induced to insert a letter that I wrote to Mr. 

 Martin, wherein I had occasion to introduce this subject. 

 I hope my readers will pardon me for copying the letter 

 at full length ; as, although in other parts wholly irre- 

 levant to the present subject, yet it all, more or less, 

 may concern young sportsmen. They may, however, 

 say, and with reason, what can snipe shooting have to 

 do with fly fishing ? With their indulgence, then, I 

 will tell them : Most young sportsmen, probably some 

 old ones, are not aware, that no two sports may be 

 better combined than snipe shooting and trout fishing ! 

 The snipes are never better than in February and 

 March, and at this time the trout are often pretty good, 

 and of course much easier caught by a young angler 

 than when in high season, as they have then scarcely 

 tasted a gnat, and will rise at any thing. A dark and 

 mild dry day, with a good breeze from the south and 

 west, is the most favourable time for both of these sports, 

 which may also be combined at the fall of the year, 

 when the trout, and particularly the large ones, often 

 remain in high season. 



