2 9 o ROD AND RIVER 



deteriorate in condition, and, unless a flood inter- 

 venes to induce them to move up, such fish often 

 become listless and sulky, and will do nothing. 

 These are termed ' potted ' fish, and such they 

 literally might be for all the sport they are likely 

 to afford. They are sometimes of considerable 

 size, and are in consequence a nuisance, since 

 they not only refuse to rise themselves, but hunt 

 any newcomer out of the pool. If the weather 

 has been hot and dry for any lengthened period, it 

 is strange how slight a shower will at times cause 

 them to shift their quarters. I have known fish 

 which have remained apparently motionless for 

 weeks move upward after a shower of rain which 

 was insufficient to lay the dust. 



The condition of the water and the weather 

 exercise a very decided influence on the fish. 

 When the river is low and clear, it is difficult to 

 induce them to move. In high flood, fishing with 

 a fly is an impossibility, but when the water is 

 beginning to clear after a flood, good sport may 

 generally be reckoned upon. Fish will not take 

 when rivers are rising. It is the custom of millers 

 to draw the mill-hatches on Saturday afternoon, 

 and the rivers rise in consequence. At such times 

 the salmon may be observed jumping and splash- 

 ing about in all directions ; but they will not 

 look at a fly, or anything of the kind. Indeed, 

 it may here be remarked that when fish jump 



