74 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. 



again, and fish me this stream by inches ; for I assure you here 

 are very good fish ; both trout and grayling lie here ; and at 

 that great stone on the other side, it is ten to one a good trout 

 gives you the meeting. 



ViAT. 1 have him now, but he is gone down towards the 

 bottom : I cannot see what he is, yet he should be a good fish by 

 his weight ; but he makes no great stir. 



Pisc. Why then, by what you say, I dare venture to assure 

 you it is a grayling, who is one of the deadest-hearted fishes in 

 the world, and the bigger he is, the more easily taken. Look 

 you, now you see him plain ; I told you what he was : bring 

 hither that landing-net, boy : and now. Sir, he is your own ; 

 and believe me a good one, sixteen inches long I warrant him : 

 I have taken none such this year. 



ViAT. I never saw a grayling before look so black. 



Pisc. Did you not ? why then let me tell you, that you never 

 saw one before in right season : for then a grayling is very black 

 about his head, gills, and down his back, and has his belly of a 

 dark grey, dappled with black spots, as you see this is ; and I 

 am apt to conclude, that from thence he derives his name of 



the line home for another cast, when a tew inches more play would have 

 (lone the business. Cotton's directions are, therefore, excellent. Better 

 not strike at all, unless you are sure, and then strike easily by a turn of 

 the wrist alone. In fishing far and fine, which is the surest way, espe- 

 cially in clear, still waters, it is not easy to see the fish, and you must be 

 guided by the disturbance he makes of the surface. After he has risen, 

 cast your fly a little above the place where he showed himself, as a trout 

 almost always heads up stream, and his spring will send him in that direc- 

 tion ; then cast in diffierent directions around him. If he be large enough 

 to give you trouble (pleasant trouble !), get your rod in a perpendicular 

 position as soon as possible ; for then you have more power in playing him 

 with it. Be sure, however, never to slack your line, or he may snap it and 

 be off; neither grasp your line to draw him by it, nor attempt to basket 

 liim while you are standing in the water ; but as soon as he is sufficiently 

 exhausted, lead him to a shallow, and nab him so, that if he falls, it may 

 not be into the water. If the fish be small, such pains are unnecessary; 

 or if you have a landing net, and do not use it until he is s\',fiiciently sub- 

 dued, you may secure liim more easily. A trout may also be more readily 

 killed by leading him down stream, or, if there be no current, hither ami 

 yonder, as so the water will rush into his open mouth and drown him.— 

 Jim. Ed. 



