BROOKS, POOLS, STILL-WATERS 53 



itself into short periods, the best time being generally 

 between eleven and three o'clock in the spring, while 

 later in the year there is often a good evening rise after 

 sundown, if the weather is warm and the atmosphere 

 free from mist. 



"When a feeding fish is seen, the angler's object is 

 to get as near to him from below as possible without 

 scaring the fish. This necessitates a good deal of 

 progression after the manner of the serpent, it being 

 essential above all things to keep low. The fly chosen 

 should be as near as possible a reproduction of the 

 natural insect on the water. The line, which is of 

 plaited silk, dressed in linseed oil under the air pump, 

 is carefully greased, preferably with red deer fat, but 

 vaseline or hard mutton suet answers equally well. 

 The object of greasing the line is to insure that it shall 

 float lightly on the surface of the water. If not greased 

 no matter how well it may be dressed it soon tends 

 to be waterlogged, and in this condition sinks below the 

 surface of the water when drawn in, dragging the fly 

 with it under the water and thus soaking the latter. 



"The line we use here is generally fairly heavy and 

 preferably tapers to a fine point. Only one fly is used 

 in this style of fishing. The fly itself is lightly touched 

 with a spot of odorless paraffin from the small bottle 

 which is carried on one's waistcoat button. After 

 anointing the fly with paraffin, I find it well to absorb 

 the excess paraffin on a dry handkerchief; then by 

 making a few false casts in the air the fly is further 

 dried, and nothing but a minute suspicion of paraffin 

 remains on the fly; otherwise any excess of the paraffin 



