DAPPING 161 



as the Shee in its lower reaches is called. It was 

 by no means easy in certain places to reach the water 

 in safety, and consideration of the return journey, 

 quite as difficult, was, like the landing of possible 

 captives, deferred until the need arose. The plan 

 we adopted was to lower away the rod, butt first, 

 and then go after it. Of course, after the descent 

 and ascent at any particular place had been 

 negotiated without disaster, we thought little of the 

 undertaking on subsequent days. 



For this sport we used nothing finer than 3x 

 gut, sometimes gut-substitute of similar strength. 

 On hooking a fish we allowed it to run about the 

 pool until it was thoroughly exhausted ; then 

 we caught the line, laid aside the rod, and pulled 

 up the trout quietly and regularly hand over hand. 

 If this was done correctly, the fish did not give a 

 single kick. By this method we have never landed 

 a trout over half a pound, though many of that 

 weight ; but we shall be very pleased to try it on 

 much heavier fish. We have found it of great 

 use when fishing off bridges and high banks. One 

 trout per pool was the rule, and each represented 

 a large expenditure of time and trouble, but we 

 judged the time profitably spent, though well we 

 knew that when we reached the open water at the 

 head of 'the glen we should add to the basket at 

 much faster rate. 



Dapping over bushes introduces another difficulty, 

 viz. the releasing of the fly. If they are not much 

 higher than the angler, he should pinch a small 

 lead bullet to the cast about a foot above the 

 fly, hold the cast to the rod and the rod high diagon- 

 ally over the obstruction, and then set free the fly. 



