NIGHT-FISHING. 181 



rising, when every other reason fails. Owing to this pecu- 

 liarity, a fish can to a certain extent see behind him as it 

 were, and can take in a much wider scope of objects than 

 a cursory consideration would give him credit for, and the 

 more so as his eye is peculiarly adapted to his element in 

 this respect, as affording him increased facilities for seeing 

 his way to a living in the world. The organ of sight is 

 the chief one upon which fish rely, and is much more 

 keenly developed than any other. Feeling is probably 

 the next sense in proportionate development, as the nervous 

 organisation of fish is usually rather full and perfect, and 

 the slightest vibration in the water is felt by them appar- 

 ently instantaneously. Taste and smell are no doubt also 

 tolerably acute, but I do not think hearing is of so much 

 consequence to them as some of the other senses ; though 

 the angler will not find a loud or unusual noise in any way 

 advantageous to him, for fish undoubtedly have auricular 

 organs. 



The size of flies to be used must be regulated by the 

 water to be fished to some extent, but it is as common a 

 fault to fish with too small flies as it is to use too large 

 ones. On very well preserved and much fished streams, 

 as the Wandle, for example, very small flies are the favour- 

 ite cast, but I have often seen a coarser one, with larger 

 flies, beat it hollow ; particularly if a little wind prevailed. 

 The angler should, if he finds his small flies useless, try a 

 size or two larger, and sink them a few inches. In deep 

 water, as still mill heads, it is nearly always advisable to try 

 a larger fly, no matter whether it is * on ' or not ; I have 

 over and over again seen the benefit of this. 



I will now give a few simple and useful directions as to 

 night-fishing ; but I may premise that I wish night-fishing 

 were generally abandoned, for I believe it materially in- 

 jures the day-fishing, by rendering the fish much more shy 

 than they would naturally be if only fished for in the day- 



