A DAY'S FISHING. 137 



did not really take the fly properly, or whether the 

 .silly little hook failed to get hold it is impossible to 

 say; one thing is certain, that the trout has 

 departed in disgust. The angler must now seek 

 -another smutting fish and see if better luck awaits 

 him at the next trial. Yes, there, about ten yards 

 higher up, a trout can be seen close to the top of 

 the water like the first, and now and then taking 

 something so quietly that it scarcely dimples the 

 surface at all. The little black artificial fly floats 

 -down once, twice, thrice, without effect; but the 

 fish continues to move at something evidently just 

 under the surface. 



Now is the time for the novice to try subtlety. 

 He must so contrive matters that his fly swims 

 down to the trout not on but just under the water. 

 He therefore lets it drag in the stream behind him 

 for a little so that it may get sodden, and then 

 presses the water into it with finger and thumb, 

 after which it should sink as soon as it falls. Then 

 he casts it above the fish as before. Now, unless 

 he has exceptionally good sight, he will not be able 

 to see the fly as it comes down, and his attention 

 should be riveted on the trout. Possibly he will 

 see the fish move a little to one side and then 

 return to its place; possibly he wil] even see it 

 open and close its mouth ; in either event he should 



