58 FISHING IN EDEN 



When he at last came out, and I questioned him, 

 he replied, " They were takken t' flee under t' top 

 o' t' watter. Ah hed to let me cast sink a bit. Ah 

 know this plaice of old. It isn't first time ahve 

 come across what heppened just noo. Thers lots 

 o' sek like plaices on t' beck, and ye'll mebbe 

 remimber, fra what yev seen, that there are lots o' 

 feeden fish below strang streams at this time o' year 

 that ye can't see brek t' top o' t' watter." 



In the meantime I had changed my own tail fly, 

 and we moved farther up, where " Bob " sat down 

 and lit his pipe and watched me get a few more trout 

 behind the island; remarking at the finish that I 

 ought to be quieter in netting my fish. " Doan't 

 show t' net ower much. Stand quietly and hod it 

 riddy for them under t' watter as ye draw them in. 

 Ye should allus dip yer net heed oot o' seet. The 

 hooks are nobbut smaw things and it's better not to 

 scare yer trout wi' t' net. In t' flat spring watter 

 they see ye mair than in t' streams later on, and 

 they'll generally come alang quietly eneugh if yer 

 nut waiving things aboot." 



These and many other dictums were of the kind 

 " Bob " employed in the course of his teaching. 

 They were always practical and to the point, and bit 

 so deep, at that time, into an uncrowded memory 

 that recalling them requires no conscious effort. 



