STATE OF THE RIVER. 169 



his mouth, as one would a comfit, not to bite or rend 

 it. His instinct, in fact, occasions him to regard the 

 salmon-roe, as inert, unresisting matter, while all other 

 substances he is wont to prey upon possess life, motion, 

 and the power of escape. 



In the mode of fishing recommended, the angler, as 

 already hinted, ought to restrict his operations to a 

 single spot in the range or beat occupied by him. 

 Doing so, he will most effectually concentrate the 

 feeding trout and render available a great proportion of 

 his casts. He should on all occasions keep his line 

 taut, sounding, as it were, the bottom with the leads 

 attached to it, and holding on the alert in case of any 

 sudden strain or stoppage arising from the interference 

 of a fish with his bait. On favourable days, this will 

 happen in the course of every cast or throw taken by 

 him, and he has only to strike at the proper moment in 

 order to secure the trout. It is scarcely necessary for 

 me to add further instructions upon this subject. A 

 practical lesson or two will avail, beyond all written 

 advice. I shall, accordingly, do little more than append 

 a single remark as to the condition of water and state of 

 the atmosphere best adapted to the kind of fishing under 

 notice. 



October and November being unquestionably the 

 most suitable months, a flooded river during one or 

 other of them is the sure index of sport. The proper 

 moment for commencing operations is when the water, 

 on its decrease, has begun to assume a yellow or light- 

 brown appearance the particles of sand and soil being 

 still, to some extent, in an unsettled state. From this 

 period, until it merges into the deeper-brown or black 

 consequent upon most autumnal floods, the salmon roe 

 may be successfully fished with. Bull-trout and whit- 

 lings are aptest to take it during their ascent from the 



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