228 TROUT FISHING 



Perhaps, too, that is responsible for the accursed 

 curl in the gut, 'from which I have suffered frequently. 

 Up eyes, down eyes, straight eyes I have tried 

 each kind of hook, and the gut has curled with each. 

 Of one thing I am certain the trouble has been 

 worse with drawn than with undrawn gut. But 

 it has not been of daily occurrence. The same gut 

 which curled on Saturday might be as straight as a 

 ruler on Monday. As I always soak it well, I am 

 coming to the conclusion that the weather is in 

 some way responsible. We have still a lot to find 

 out in connection with fishing. 



Another trouble is harder to define in exact terms, 

 since it is rather displayed in a state of affairs than 

 in any particular incident. Consider the following 

 cumulative series of little annoyances. 



Twenty yards above the railed inclosure whither 

 the cattle come to drink a handsome trout is rising 

 just at the tail of a streamer of weed. The current 

 at this point is of even flow ; there are no difficulties 

 in the shape of trees or bushes at the side or behind ; 

 the wind is barely perceptible. To all appearances 

 it is an easy matter to put a fly properly over the 

 spot, and in due course to get a rise out of the fish, 

 lying as it is about two yards out from the bank. 

 Yet at the first trial, though the length of line has 

 been judged correctly, the fly shoots off at a tangent 



