DOUBTS AND DIFFICULTIES. 55 



even where fish are small, for then the drawn 

 points mean the cracking off of the fly at 

 times when the angler can scarcely blame himself 

 for making too quick a recovery. As moreover 

 on such days there must necessarily be a ripple 

 on the water, often sufficient to half drown the 

 fly, the nicety of casting is less important and 

 consequently the natural gut cast is a distinct 

 advantage. 



For evening fishing too, meaning by that 

 when it is too dark to be able to see your fly 

 upon the water, or when you have mounted a 

 somewhat larger bodied pattern, drawn gut is 

 a mistake, a snare, and a delusion ; as it seldom 

 stands a touch from a branch or a stake when 

 it is occupied in its proper vocation of hauling 

 a struggling trout over the edge of the net, or 

 of lifting its head and shoulders clean out of 

 the water, so often the only alternative under 

 the dark shade of a steep and grassy bank, or 

 while craning over on one's stomach on the top 

 of camp shedding. To lose a really good fish 

 after a poor day at such a time when you have 

 actually counted him as your own, and thought 

 how his contour will cause envy and admiration 

 at the inn bar, seems to take years off one's 

 life. 



THE TREATMENT OF GUT. 



I have rather put the cart before the horse 

 by speaking first of soaked gut in action rather 

 than of how to treat it before it comes to the 

 river bank. 



In cases where you only get a fortnight's 



