212 THE SCIENTIFIC AKGLER. 



A valuable aid at these times, we have always found 

 in the use of a small glass-bottomed drinking-horn, as 

 in the froth and foam that is found in quiet corners, at 

 points where the water eddies round, drowned specimens 

 of what are monopolizing the attention of the fish are 

 sure to be discovered. Whenever the trout are not to be 

 drawn to the surface, owing to the scarcity of surface 

 food, there is for the fly-fisher a rarely failing method of 

 procuring sport by means of the Eed Palmer Caterpillar. 

 The way we use it is to cast it precisely the same as the 

 fly, at the extremity of a nine-feet gut lash, in which 

 fineness and strength are combined. This done, and all 

 being in readiness, the mounted cast is delivered with 

 more than ordinary care, a couple of yards or so above 

 any fish that maybe on the look out for what the stream 

 brings forth. In comparatively still and clear water, this 

 style of angling exceeds most from a genuine sportsman's 

 point of view, as each movement of the fish is plainly 

 visible to the rodster. The lure should be slightly 

 worked by a wrist movement, just sufficient to open and 

 shut the feather fibres.* When the artificial has passed 

 the fish the operation must be repeated; and fish, especi- 

 ally large ones, are more often than not killed after a 

 certain amount of attention to this matter. We have 

 often creeled a trout, grayling, salmon, or chub, after 

 casting twelve, fifteen, and even twenty times, the bait 

 being subjected to an all round inspection each time of 

 its appearance. It is thought by some, that by this 

 repetition of casts and workings the fish finally becomes 

 eager, under the impression that from the constant suc- 

 cession of baits they are becoming numerous. Be this as 

 it may, that the fish do take this bait not only in these, 

 but in a variety of other circumstances, is now an 

 established fact, placed beyond all dispute. We have 



* The author refers to up-stream fishing. 



