42 FLY FISHING 



ness of the water make these rivers less suited. 

 Sometimes the first rush of a chalk stream trout 

 when hooked is as sudden and wild and strong 

 as that of a fish of the same size in any other 

 river ; but in my experience this generally 

 happens with a south country trout when its 

 feeding place is far down on a shallow or in 

 a long mill-tail, and its home is in the hatch- 

 hole or under the mill above. In such places I 

 have known a trout of one and a half pounds 

 leave very few yards of line upon the reel before 

 its first rush could be checked, and the line to 

 be run out as swiftly and as straight as any one 

 could wish. Twice during the last season did 

 it happen to me to have fine experiences of 

 this kind. In the first case the trout had some- 

 thing over twenty yards to go for safety, and 

 nearly succeeded. Had the distance been two 

 or three yards less it would have been accom- 

 plished in the first rush, but in the last few 

 yards the trout had to collect his strength for 

 a second effort. There was a moment's break 

 in the impetus of the rush, and a struggle 

 began in which at first the trout gained ground, 

 but very slowly, while every foot was contested 



