THAMES TROUT-FISHING. 415 



well to borrow a word from Mr. Chucks to mitigate his 

 tackle. 



For my own part, however, I enjoy Thames trouting most 

 when fishing the open streams with heavy spinning-tackle at 

 the beginning of the season, and the livelier runs with the fly 

 towards its close. I shall therefore direct my remarks chiefly 

 to these two phases of the craft, adding, however, a few pages 

 with regard to its other branches. 



Let us suppose it the ist of April, and that you are deter- 

 mined to kill a Thames trout or two, and not be yourself 

 a ' poisson tfAvril! You will of course have secured a first- 

 rate local boatman some days before, as, however well you may 

 know the water you have fixed upon, much will depend upon 

 his experience and judgment. I have never countenanced the 

 common practice of allowing my hired fisherman to angle 

 either with me or for me. I don't put this as a matter of 

 principle ; it is with me, no doubt, rather a question of tempera- 

 ment. I have made up my mind to kill a trout, and have 

 found that a strong will in this, as in other matters, goes far 

 towards success. But were I to fail, it would be anything but 

 a consolation to me that my boatman had a ten-pound prize in 

 the ' fresh-water lottery,' whilst I had drawn a blank. Nor of 

 course could I expect the full benefit of his knowledge with 

 regard to the exact haunts of particular fish, if I knew that he 

 was afterwards to try the same water for his own honour and 

 glory. I have known many Thames puntmen well, and very 

 fine fellows I have found them, but one must not expect too 

 much from human nature. On the other hand, I admit to the 

 full my boatman's important share in the day's success. In 

 the ancient British wars the chief drove the war- chariot, while 

 his retainers fought from it. And if anyone contends in like 

 manner, that the man who guides the punt plays a higher role than 

 he who wields the rod, I should not care to dispute the point. 

 Only when I have undertaken the spinning department I insist 

 on keeping it to myself. My boatman always seemed to under- 

 stand this, and I think liked me the better for being so dread- 



