ON EAPID STREAMS. 113 



that of simple imitation of natural food, and based 

 on the principle of the character of the fish, and 

 his boldness and tyranny ; remembering the uni- 

 versal maxim, however, that the fisherman must 

 be wholly concealed, which maxim, in the case of 

 the clear swift-running brook, will be found diffi- 

 cult to carry out, and will cost some little labour 

 and experience to perfectly accomplish. 



And now, to the uninitiated, let me briefly 

 recapitulate what may elsewhere be found i>i 

 different parts in alluding to small rapid stony- 

 bottomed streams, or brooks. Remember that 

 the trout are pretty constantly feeding, but that 

 their food varies. They feed early in the morn- 

 ing, and seem especially fond of an early break- 

 fast ; therefore you cannot be too early by the 

 riv.er side. If a trout sees you, or any part of 

 your dress or tackle, distinguishing it from local 

 objects, you will not catch him, and probably will 

 not catch his neighbours either. Conceal your- 

 self, therefore, entirely, rod and all, by every 

 means (and these are numerous) in your power. 

 Regard a pool or river, or any portion of water 

 you approach, with a most scrutinizing eye, and 

 endeavour constantly to pick out the exact spot 

 where every fish is lying; practise this, and you 

 will soon catch every fish favourably situated. 

 Give every rapid- running stream credit for a 

 great number of fish, so every likely spot will be 

 fished as though you were convinced a trout were 

 there : this conviction firmly fixed, will make 

 you fish at all times in the same determined but 



