OX RAPID STREAMS. 37 



sees indeed upwards and forwards, but cannot 

 direct his eye to take in rays of light falling from 

 behind forwards, or only to a very limited extent ; 

 consequently the lower in height we are, and the 

 more immediately behind the trout we are placed, 

 the less able will he be to see us. We must 

 then have recourse to every stratagem to obtain 

 such a position, and in advancing, for example, 

 to any spot we believe to contain a trout, we 

 should place ourselves as nearly on the level of 

 the water as possible, below it if we can, and 

 proceed if even obliged to crawl on the ground 

 from below, upwards, or as regards the direction 

 of the fish, from behind, forwards. Should a high 

 bank border the stream, rather than stand high 

 above the eye of the trout and far off, we had 

 better get down to the water's edge below where 

 he is lying, and then cautiously make our advance, 

 and in so doing keep the rod out of view. A 

 thousand points in detail of means of secluding 

 ourselves might be enumerated, such as getting 

 behind trees, stones, rocks, into ditches or deep 

 gutters, of our most appropriate dress, &c., all 

 of which common sense sufficiently indicates, and 

 which will be attended to and adopted, provided 

 the principle of always avoiding the sharp and 

 watchful eye of the trout be remembered. 



Now in this our grand obstacle, viz. the quick 

 watchfulness of the eye of the trout, guarding 

 him from our near approach, it is quite evident 

 that the water in which he swims will affect 

 materially our own seclusion, as well as our bait 



