178 TROUT FISHING 



hook out through the knot, you obtain a thicker 

 and tougher tissue to resist the action of the 

 hook, which in other parts is apt to cut and tear 

 the worm. 



The worm, though so universal a bait, is not to 

 be relied on absolutely as the best at all times ; 

 it will, any day, some time or other, kill trout, and 

 many too ; but there are other baits which at par- 

 ticular times will kill more, so that no keen 

 sportsman will rest satisfied with restricting him- 

 self to the worm, and excluding all other means. 

 When the trout are taking the worm well, there 

 is no mode of fishing so destructive, and perhaps 

 at such times none more pleasing ; but they will 

 not always take the worm well, and sometimes 

 will not take it at all. It requires much experi- 

 ence accurately to estimate the relative advan- 

 tages of particular methods of fishing at any 

 given time the perfection of this calculation is 

 the highest triumph the fisherman can acquire. 

 It can only be attained by extensive knowledge, 

 for which the fisherman has to toil with patient 

 perseverance through years of experience, and 

 bear with numerous disappointments in his daily 

 pursuit, but if patiently persevered after, it will 

 ultimately be obtained ; and the confidence it in- 

 spires, the boldness it insures, and the sweet 

 reward of perpetual, unremitting sport it brings, 

 are indeed enjoyments to encourage and stimulate 

 us in our exertions, though those have necessarily 

 to be protracted over a lengthened period of time. 

 I can mention a few circumstances which may 



