168 AUTUMNS IN AKGYLESHIKE 



to manage with a small rod, because the stream 

 is for the most part sluggish, and requires a 

 strong wind to make it properly fishable, which, 

 when it touches the water properly, always blows 

 up stream. Therefore, to make the fly hang 

 right, it is not sufficient to cast straight across. 

 You should throw a long line across and down 

 stream, and work the fly with the point of the 

 rod close to the water; and this must be done 

 often, as the line in such a position will not 

 work long at a time. It is tiresome and mono- 

 tonous at the best of times, because one part of 

 it is so like another; but to-day, when it is too 

 high, it is doubly tedious, because I have not 

 that faith in the result which encourages me 

 to persevere, and I only flog on mechanically, 

 in order to give plenty of time for the higher 

 pools to run down. This occupies an hour and 

 a half, during which time nothing makes an 

 offer at the fly except a small parr, which en- 

 deavours to hang itself on a hook nearly as big 

 as itself; so it is with a sigh of relief that I 

 shoulder my bag, and with my young companion 

 make my way through a small swampy hazel- 

 wood to the next pool up the river, which is 

 known as "Boy's" pool, in allusion, I believe, 

 to some legendary boy, who is supposed to have 

 met his death there. 



This is a pool which, although it always holds 

 fish, is not usually very productive. The stream 



