114 ART OF ANGLING. 



other considerations, in a stream running east or 

 west, I would prefer the north side, to avoid having 

 your own shadow, arid that of your rod, cast on the 

 stream, in case of sunshine, and to make in any 

 event a less conspicuous figure. In streams lying 

 north and south, I would prefer the east side for the 

 same reason; both because the sun is generally 

 pretty well soufch before the fisher begins his sport, 

 and because the afternoon may be considered the 

 most valuable part of the day. In a wide river you 

 must, of course, choose the bank on which you have 

 access to the best streams. In one which can be 

 fished across, if a still and oozy river, choose the side 

 opposite to the favourite bank, because a mollow 

 bank is best fished from the further shore, But if 

 it should abound with rapid streams, choose the 

 bank under which the fish harbour, because flies 

 cannot be kept stationary for a sufficient length of 

 time across a rapid run which is at any distance 

 from you. In the absence of any of these con- 

 siderations, and if ignorant of the localities, prefer 

 the bank on which the path seems most frequented. 

 "Where bridges are frequent, or the stream shallow, 

 the decision on this point may be of little conse- 

 quence : but on deep and formidable streams, with 

 few bridges or fords, the angler will find it worthy of 

 some reflection, else the consequence may be that 



