TROUT FISHING. 79 



its partially decayed planking under which 

 the Trout lie perdues, I dropped my minnow 

 lightly in close to a pile at the end of the sill, 

 and drawing it rather sharply past, out came 

 a spotted beauty of over five pounds weight, 

 who at the same moment caught sight of 

 either me or my rod. Back he darted ; but 

 leaving him a short time to recover his equa- 

 nimity, I tried him again, with the same result, 

 no less than five times; at the sixth time, 

 either his hunger had increased, or he was 

 becoming used to the occasional sight of the 

 rod, for he forgot his prudence, and gave a 

 thoroughly ferocious snap .at my poor little 

 minnow, but, much to his disgust, instead of 

 taking the minnow, the minnow took him, and 

 his happy hunting-grounds knew him no more. 



Never wear any clothes for fishing that are 

 of a decidedly striking colour, a tall black or 

 white hat is certainly not to be recommended ; 

 a suit of dark grey or neutral tint is preferable. 

 If you are fishing a small stream, take advan- 

 tage of every bush at the side of the water 

 which will afford you any cover; or if there 

 is nothing of the kind, stoop or crawl as well 

 as you can, so as to keep out of range of the 

 Trout's vision. 



A friend of mine who used to fish a small 

 Welsh stream which in parts was not much 

 wider than a ditch, could catch more Trout and 

 those of far larger size than any one else who 

 fished the same water, simply through paying 



