SUNSHINE 73 



them at all by daylight, it is neces- 

 sary to plunge nearly the whole bamboo 

 rod vertically under water a curious 

 position according to our ideas, but one 

 with which a very little practice ensures 

 familiarity. At first, indeed, I resented 

 this injunction, with the result that I 

 caught nothing, while natives in the same 

 boat jerked a fish on board every few 

 seconds. As soon as the torches are all 

 alight, the joint illumination of fifty or 

 sixty boats anchored every evening on 

 the same ground brings the fish so close 

 to the surface that the rods may be used 

 in the ordinary way. 



Although bright sunshine is, on the 

 whole, regarded in no friendly way by 

 fishermen, some of the evidence of my 

 correspondents indicates that it is, con- 

 ditionally or otherwise, an advantage 

 with salmon, and sometimes also with 

 trout. Its influence even varies accord- 

 ing to place and season, and whereas it 

 is found to favour sport in the eastern 

 counties and in spring salmon -fishing, 



