WADING UNDER DIFFICULTIES. 161 



trate between several rocks and to increase in 

 force until, as a strong boisterous rapid, it joined 

 the head of the Couperee, one of the most exten- 

 sive pools on this part of the river. In full water, 

 when just clearing after a spate, heavy fish fre- 

 quently lie within reach of the left bank, avoiding 

 the more turbulent stream in the middle, and the 

 best part can be commanded from the shore, but 

 in its present state they would more probably 

 frequent the central current, during the upper 

 portion of its course, and it was necessary to wade 

 through a labyrinth of submerged rocks, among 

 which it was no easy matter to advance and pre- 

 serve at the same time a firm footing. Once indeed 

 I was quite immersed, while feeling my way among 

 the conical slippery stones at the bottom. Com- 

 mencing, as usual, with as large and dull-coloured 

 a fly as seemed suited to the state of the water, 

 and changing it occasionally from the stock wound 

 round my fishing-hat, without going on shore, I 

 descended gradually from the upper part of the 

 pool until its increasing depth forbade a further 

 progress in that direction. Here the main cur- 

 rent wheeled nearer to the bank, from whence it 

 appeared quite possible to reach it witli a long lino 

 for a considerable part of its downward course, 

 and, feeling rather chilly from my previous duck- 



