THE COMMON BROWN TROUT. 277 



that many estimable anglers hold a eontrary opinion, but, as regards fish 

 of prey at least, I mnst stand steadfast in my belief. The great writers 

 on angling are against me in the majority of cases, but I am simply 

 speaking from conviction. The only writer with whose conclusions I can 

 at all effect a compromise is Mr. Stewart. I give these opinions, bnt, as 

 the reader will observe, they are very half-hearted, and with no consider- 

 able difficulty might be dove-tailed in with my own. This is what he 

 says : " A showery day with occasional sunshine, or an altogether sunny 

 one without a cloud, is most favourable, but an entirely wet day is also 

 very good. Very good sport may be had in calm thundery weather, 

 even with that bugbear ' white clouds ' in the sky, as also in blowy, wet 

 weather." You see, whether it be cloudless or not, wet or fine, calm 

 or windy, Mr. Stewart can find sport. I have no doubt of it ; and so 

 can I, but not because of any peculiarity of weather. 



Fishing in flooded waters with the worm needs but little explanation. 

 All one has to do is to use a leaded line, and either cast down or let the 

 bait roll over and over into the lagoons and nooks amplified or created by 

 the flush of water. A newly dug worm, because of its stronger smell, 

 is recommended instead of a well-scoured one when the water is very 

 thick, and fishing up, for the same reason, is not necessary. This kind 

 of fishing is not to be extolled, as it savours much of poaching. The 

 fish are in such cases heavily handicapped, and not the angler. 



I have had very fair success with an artificial worm made of india- 

 rubber. They may be got of almost any tackle maker, and are very 

 durable. Let it not be understood, however, that I recommend them, 

 except in extreme cases, when the live worm cannot be obtained. 



