ON RAPID STREAMS. 39 



could scarce hope to obtain an artificial fly so 

 well made and precisely similar in appearance to 

 the living insect that the trout under such 

 circumstances could not perceive the deception, 

 and would imagine the artificial representation a 

 natural reality ; and even if we could obtain so 

 precise a similitude of the insect, we should not 

 be able to use it in a perfectly natural manner, 

 so as in every way to resemble a living fly, with- 

 out either exposing ourselves, or the rod or line, 

 or even the gut .to which the fly would be tied, 

 and so frightening the fish. A trout then, in 

 shallow, still, clear water, with a bright sun 

 shining on him, is almost past the bounds of 

 possibility of capture by artificial baits, or at any 

 rate, if some be so captured, they are but few, 

 and we want to consider how and when to catch 

 the many. To take a fish so situated it will be 

 necessary to use the natural insect itself with the 

 most delicate tackle possible, and keep ourselves 

 perfectly secluded, or assuredly be our bait ever 

 so tempting we shall not coax the trout to take 

 it; consequently in such places, under such 

 circumstances, we obtain but little sport; we 

 may take some fish, but not nearly so many as 

 we should do under more favourable circumstances 

 which would be coloured water, or surface 

 movement by wind, obscurity of sun, &c. ; and 

 when these conditions favour, we may in such 

 places have good sport; when not so, after 

 much labour, we shall reap but small reward - 

 hence, when coming to such places at unfavour; 



