INTRODUCTION 31 



of electrical disturbance in the atmosphere. 

 The eels are affected in a similar way, the 

 obvious cause of uneasiness being the 

 electricity in the air. Here at least is 

 none of that prescience of a coming feast 

 which is commonly attributed to their 

 unfailing instinct." In view, however, of 

 the fact that the conditions described in 

 such interesting fashion by Mr. Hall are 

 wholly exceptional, it is possible that he 

 is unduly hard on the instinct of trout 

 under more normal influences. It is, 

 however, clear that Mr. Hall's intention 

 is to raise a question of cause rather than 

 effect, whether the sluggishness of fishes 

 before an impending flood is due to the 

 promise of food or to some physical shock 

 to which they are peculiarly susceptible. 



Of all the influences which make them- Sunshine, 

 selves felt in the course of a day's fishing, 

 none perhaps is more evident than the 

 variations in the light and heat of the sun. 

 The former affects the sight of the fish, 

 and betrays to its suspicious eyes the 

 shadow of the fisherman or the lurking 



