HOW TO FISH A WEIR. 



upright on the beam, fishing the edge of the apron almost 

 at their feet, in the expectation of running a trout. If 

 they would consider the fine statuesque relief against the 

 clear sky behind, which they present to the wary and 

 astonished eyes of the fish, by so exposing themselves to 

 view, they would better understand why they do sit and 

 stand for hours and hours on such places without getting 

 a run. Is a Thames trout such a fool as to take a sus- 

 picious-looking bait, with the angler staring down his 

 throat in the most conspicuous place possible, and within 

 five yards or less of him ? Why, a trumpery little half- 

 pound trout, that has never tasted steel or seen a bunch 

 of feathers in his life, would not stand that ; and how can 

 anglers expect the shyest fish that swims to do go ? Th 

 proper plan is to take the punt up above the weir, to let 

 it fall against the uprights and lie there ; then, by pus] i i i \^ 

 the rod between the handles of the paddles and the rymers, 

 to fish not only the white water close up to the apron, but 

 the apron itself. Many a good trout is hooked upon the 

 apron, where he rests (as good trout will) close to the fall, 

 picking up quietly whatever comes down it that is edi })!: 

 but which good trout will inevitably dash off the apron 

 into the depths below the instant the angler sets his foot 

 upon the weir-beam. The angler should send the fisher- 

 man below the weir with the net. Let him get a spare 

 boat, if it is required, and lie on the shore close up, while 

 his master fishes the weir across, gently pushing the punt 

 on from bay to bay, and never showing himself to the fish. 

 If a fish is hooked the fisherman rows out and lands him, 

 rebaits the hooks, and retires, while his master finishes 

 the weir. 



Unfortunately there is little chance for these precau- 

 tions nowadays ; for, whenever you go near a weir, you 

 are sure to see one if not two fishermen perched like 

 Caryatides, at each corner, lazily staring out of counte- 



