APRIL 65 



as in the Tasmanian Rivers only temporary. In 

 more than one reservoir, when trout were first in- 

 troduced, minnows and sticklebacks were present in 

 abundance, while now not one is to be found. In such 

 a case, unless some fresh food supply be introduced, the 

 condition of the fish will sadly deteriorate. 



However, there are plenty of reservoirs without trout 

 and full of good feed, so perhaps we need not feel un- 

 duly worried. Destroy the pike and perch, and stock 

 them with trout, and in half-a-dozeri years we will have 

 in our midst some southern Loch Levens, such as will 

 give that Mecca of the loch-fisher a hard task to hold 

 its own. 



One or two practical hints may be advisable to be 

 given as regards the best tackle and methods of fishing 

 these reservoirs. 



As wading is very properly prohibited, it is as well 

 to say that for shore-fishing a 14-foot rod will be found 

 more convenient by most people than a somewhat 

 shorter single-handed rod. With respect to flies, 

 perhaps I may be allowed to write a few lines on a very 

 vexed subject, which seems to be dealt with by many 

 writers in a somewhat unnecessarily disputatious 

 fashion. It has long been my habit to suit my methods 

 and tackle to the habits of the fish ; and these vary 

 entirely with their environment. Why do the trout of 

 the chalk streams at times feed madly on surface flies, 

 such as the sub-imago of the mayfly ; while the Loch 

 Leven trout, even though the fly be in quantities on the 

 surface, apparently ignore it? Who can tell, the fact 

 remains! Is the average loch fly aught else than the 

 imitation of some water beastie, presumably the larva 

 of some insect? As to the knowledge possessed by 

 chalk-stream trout regarding the flies used by their arch- 

 enemy man, such knowledge has been dearly pur 

 chased ; they have seen dozens of artificial flies where 

 the lake fish have seen ones ; and in some instances 

 have on more than one occasion made an excursion on 

 to the river's bank, in consequence of having been 

 deceived by a clever pattern. No wonder they have 



