96 THE TROUT. 



allow your shadow to fall on the water. Shadows 

 terrify fish even more than they did the Third 

 Richard on the eve of battle ; and though fishes 

 are supposed I think proved to be incapable of 

 hearing, in the ordinary sense, I am convinced that 

 the quieter you are, the better your chances. 

 Although unfurnished with ears, fish are singularly 

 sensitive, and may be perfectly conscious of the 

 vibration of the air caused by sound, though not 

 striking on a tympanum. 



The wind being to your back, or on your quarter, 

 commence (fishermen, I know not why, always 

 use the term " commence " for " begin ") com- 

 mence fishing at the head of the pool or rapid ; 

 throw a short line at first, and cover the ground 

 nearest to you, gradually lengthening your throw 

 as you proceed, but never letting out more line 

 than you can perfectly well manage. If loose in 

 the water, you cannot strike rapidly ; and though 

 a fish may hastily mistake a sham for a real fly, 

 he speedily finds out the mistake, and before you 

 can get the line taut, as it ought to have been at 

 first, has spit it out contemptuously three feet 

 from him. The fall of the fly on the water is the 

 most killing moment, and you must, therefore, 

 be careful that thejfy touches the water first. A 

 yard or two of line flopping in the water is apt to 



