A DAY ON CLYDE 237 



At summer level it is only about a foot in average 

 depth and of fairly steep gradient. Often it is 

 crowded with rising trout, especially at the gloam- 

 ing, and what a glorious, exciting sound trout 

 make when rising greedily in a steep stream ! 

 The bottom consists of the finest gravel, with 

 not a single large stone to provide cover, so that 

 it may safely be concluded that any trout in it are 

 there for the sole purpose of feeding. Even though 

 the flowing surface was quite undisturbed, we 

 would not omit to search it thoroughly, for we 

 cannot recall a blank day on it. 



At that point where the ripple of the stream fades 

 away in the pool, there is a fish quietly feeding on 

 small duns sailing down the current, a small company 

 truly, but evidently quite sufficient to attract atten- 

 tion. Of these our Pale Olives are a fair representa- 

 tion. The substitution called for is soon made, and 

 the new fly laid above the last eddy of the stream ; 

 gaily it bobs for a moment, and then sails placidly 

 along. The trout splashes wildly over it, a good 

 fish not destined to be ours. We think that it rose 

 with the best intentions, determined to accept, but 

 at the last moment took alarm and changed its 

 course. 



Taking the hint, we replace the fly with one of 

 the same pattern but smaller in size, and greedily 

 look over the waving water. The small hatch 

 seems to have passed, and we are too impatient to 

 wait for the arrival of another detachment. Our 

 fly may pass as a belated individual or as a fore- 

 runner, we really care not which. 



Gradually we work up the short stream, casting 

 the fly ahead, laying it over the favourite lines of 



