94 



hesitate to take yonr baits ; they being similar to what 

 they have usually had washed down to them by the irn< 

 petuosity of the currents, in those small channels whereby 

 they are chiefly supplied with food. 



I have often found it attended with great success, when 

 I have let my worms down into such a channel, at about 

 a yard or two above where it discharged into a deep hole : 

 frequently several fine fishes have competited in the attack 

 upon my bait -, and this too with such greediness as ta 

 swallow it without the least delay, and requiring my &- 

 gorger to get back my hook. 



The great secret in most branches of fishing, but espe- 

 cially in roving and dipping, is to keep out of sight : 

 your shadow will often scare away the fish to a great dis- 

 tance; nay, even the slightest motion of your rod, when 

 the water is clear, will have die same effect, as may be 

 frequently seen on a bright da}-, when the very waving of 

 a bow frightens the fishes, large and small, into holes 

 under steep banks, and into other occult situations. 



For tliis, and indeed for many other good reasons, 

 when you commence angling, always fish the water next 

 to you first j keeping completely out of sight, carrying 

 your rod very gently over such boughs, grass, &c. as may 

 best answer your purpose in regard to concealment ; and 

 taking particular care to put your bait into the water in 

 the most quiet manner. Under such precautions you may 

 do wonders ; but observe, that a fish once alarmed is not 

 easily soothed, and will rarely approach a bait. 



As in roving and dipping no float is used, it is obvious 

 that no ostensible indication of a bite may appear to a by* 

 srander, though the person holding the rod will feel, and 

 that too very sensibly, wten he has a bite , for although 



