RAIX, HAIL, AND SLEET 123 



the water (in the North Esk) is left clear, 

 though brown, we get fish when they are 

 there." Colonel M'Inroy here distin- 

 guishes between a condition of turbid 

 opaqueness and one in which, though of 

 abnormal colour, the water remains trans- 

 lucent. The distinction is familiar to 

 most fishermen. 



There is a muddy condition of the Bass 

 estuary water of the Teign, caused by 

 heavy rain draining off Dartmoor, which 

 gives the water the appearance of pea- 

 soup. At such times, not a bass is to be 

 caught until, at any rate, a high tide has 

 cleared the river with pure sea -water. 

 This rule I have, during six summers in 

 succession spent on that estuary in daily 

 pursuit of bass, found practically without 

 exception. Whether the bass remain in 

 the river and are merely unable to see the 

 live sand-eel used as bait, or whether, 

 with the water so foul, these estuarine 

 fish move out over the bar until it clears 

 again, we do not know. 



