ON RAPID STREAMS. 23 



ture them, and this will require special notice 

 hereafter, now only remarking, that frequently we 

 may be led to suppose that no trout is lying in 

 some little eddy or current we first thought likely 

 to contain one, because after casting our fly we 

 have not moved one, thus again reverting to the 

 fisherman's plausible argument, that our want of 

 success is due to the fish, and not to our own 

 stupidity. Now having observed a spot, and 

 determined that it is a favourable one for feeding, 

 if we cannot succeed in at least moving a trout, 

 without doubt it is our own fault and not that of 

 the fish ; for either we are fishing with the wrong 

 bait, as the fly, when the worm would be better, or 

 we are not using the bait in a manner attractive to 

 the trout, or we have in some way actually fright- 

 ened the fish, who often sees the fisherman, long 

 ere the fisherman sees him, so that he is too timid 

 to feed. We have, I grant, great difficulties, some- 

 times insurmountable difficulties to contend with, 

 but I am sure that if the fisherman will only bear 

 in mind that any want of success in capturing a 

 fish from a feeding spot he believes to contain one, 

 is due solely to his want of skill, he will be shortly 

 rejoiced to contradict the assertion so often made 

 that the fish would not sport, in other words, would 

 not eat, had given their stomachs a holiday and 

 had gone to sleep, a statement so absurd that 

 common sense must at once justly declare the party 

 to be blamed in the affair, of fishermen versus fish. 

 Let us repeat then most assuredly that trout in 

 small and rapid streams are always to be found in 



