226 Night-Fishing. 



sweetest morsel of the night." Well may we anglers 

 exclaim 



"Still shine, thou soul of rivers, as they run ! " 



and prolong our sports till " civil-suited morn " 

 appears to warn night's revellers home. With such 

 favourable omens these little light coquettes may 

 ensnare in measured dance many a big fish, even 

 at times far beyond the witching hour, in all the 

 months of the night-fishing season. 



Their place is taken by the large flies when the 

 night is wet, dark, or cloudy, and when no moon 

 appears. These flies are selected for such nights, 

 not because the fish could not then see the small 

 ones, but simply because their prototypes the 

 large moths though abroad at night, do not go on 

 the water during moonlight. Their imitations are 

 therefore successful only in the entire absence of 

 the moon, or in such reaches of the river as are for 

 the time in shadow. If in such a dark and be- 

 nighted condition the tyro be catching no fish, and 

 be wellnigh despairing of success, let him consider 

 whether he has done everything to merit it, and 

 recall the words written by the humorous Penn : 

 "You will not have good sport if you continue 

 throwing after you have whipped your flies off. 

 Pay attention to this ; and if you have any doubt 

 after dusk, you may easily ascertain the point by 



