168 FISHING IN EDEN 



they hev to come up a bit to a floaten flee they're 

 not so sure o' their aim. Ah often think they want 

 to git near eneugh to feel t' flee. Ye mebbe don't 

 know that troot feel wi' their lips. It's t' 

 standen flee that bothers them. A hauf drooned flee 

 they git t' first try. Leet hes a lot to dea wi' fishin. 

 It sometimes bothers t' sect o' t' fish and generally 

 alters t' leuk o' flees. Ah often think t' fish are like 

 cats. They seem to see best in t' dark." 



He would also say, " Noo, if t't troot are not 

 troubled much wi' what other folk are talken aboot 

 they'll varra likely be minden ther own business. 

 They've nobbet ya traide and that's t' provision 

 traide. Nowt else matters to them withoot it's t' 

 sect o' some o' ye on t' bank or an otter in t' beck." 



We used to catch flies and show them to 

 " Bob." Questions of colour and legs, etc., used to 

 come up. He would say, in relation to the out- 

 standing or distinguishing feature of these insects, 

 " Aye, aye, they've six legs reet eneugh but ah don't 

 think t' troot ivver trouble to count them before 

 breakfast." 



Then his leading principle in regard to fly 

 making would come out. " It's t' shaddo of a flee 

 ye catch fish wi'." This idea of a ghostly looking 

 fly, a kind of apparition, was ever present with 

 " Bob." His creations in the way of flies were 



