THE RISE 83 



what in the dark. In addition to ability to de- 

 liver many casts perfectly to a selected spot, he 

 must also have the experience and knowledge 

 that enable him to decide, at least approxi- 

 mately, where the fish may lie under the pre- 

 vailing conditions. If his judgment in this par- 

 ticular is at fault his chances of rising the fish 

 are gone. He should, therefore, assume that it 

 occupies any of three or four positions, and for 

 his first cast should choose that one of them 

 which may be cast over with the least danger of 

 disturbing the fish should it occupy any one of 

 the others. If a rise be not had after a certain 

 number of casts over the chosen position, the 

 others should each be fished in turn. 



The chance of putting down a fish for good 

 will increase in proportion to the number of 

 casts over each position, multiplied by the num- 

 ber of positions. That a rise is not had from 

 the position first chosen will not prove that a 

 fish does not occupy it, and the angler's sub- 

 sequent casts will be made under increased 

 difficulty, because of his efforts to refrain from 

 further disturbing that water. 



Before leaving this subject, and at the risk 

 of becoming somewhat tedious and tiring my 

 reader, I will relate the circumstances of the 



