CONCERNING THE WIND 189 



refuse to make it so, treating every effort made with 

 the same complete indifference. 



The wind falls, and at once, all over the unruffled 

 loch, are seen the signs that we most long to see. 

 Then a floating fly is laid from long range upon the 

 rise, and the once-silent reel is aroused to eloquence 

 again ; that is, of course, provided that the trout 

 does not sink to the depths at our approach, but 

 instead accepts the offering. The wind that keeps 

 the trout down may also bring them up ; such a 

 contradiction appears inexplicable, unless the fact 

 of the matter is that the wind has no effect upon the 

 fish. 



We conclude that it is on the angler that any 

 influence is exercised ; in a breeze he is enabled, as 

 he cannot fail to see, to give a much improved 

 exhibition of casting ; he throws a fine straight 

 line, lays his fly or flies lightly upon the water exactly 

 on the mark desired, and his consistently good work 

 continued with commendable perseverance and 

 confidence in time, and from time to time, is well 

 rewarded. 



A rise at evening calm fills many an angler with 

 doubts of his powers. The trout are feeding steadily 

 and greedily, perhaps fearlessly ; some of the great 

 swirling eddies are enough to make him quiver with 

 excitement ; but his imperfections are so apparent 

 that he despairs of success. What a change comes 

 over him, if the merest catspaw of wind should 

 steal along to help him ever so slightly ! He casts 

 with hope, probably to no appreciable extent is the 

 delicacy of his execution increased, and before the 

 feathery reeds are quite motionless again he is fast 

 in a fine fish. 



