WHERE TO FISH 23 



on one hand. This aspiring devotee went for a week's 

 fishing holiday in August to a river not bearing a great 

 reputation for sport. When he arrived the river was 

 recovering from a serious flooding following an abnormally 

 heavy fall of rain. During his week's stay he accounted 

 for four salmon, together with over a score of sea-trout, 

 and all the fish were fresh-run. I may add that he 

 was using only sea-trout tackle, and he confined his fish- 

 ing to daylight hours. No doubt, to all his friends he 

 advertised his good fortune, but if those brother anglers 

 visit the river during another August, I am constrained 

 to think that their catches will not prove so exhilarating. 



An excellent plan before making a journey for sea- 

 trout fishing is to get into touch with an angler on the 

 spot so as to ascertain the probable prospects. 



In making such inquiries be sure that the " local " 

 clearly understands your meaning, as, in some districts, 

 to make reference to a sea-trout would fail to be com- 

 prehended, for the sea-trout has received a number of 

 names. In some areas it is commonly known as salmon- 

 trout, and in others it is described as salmon-peal. In 

 Ireland it bears the name of white trout, while Welshmen 

 prefer to call it sewin. In some parts of Scotland it is 

 often styled finnock. By Devonshire anglers it is in- 

 variably known as peal. It also passes under many other 

 names, such as herling, scurf, truff and whitling, to 

 mention only a few. 



To know the origin of these various designations would 

 be very enlightening, as at first glance there does not 

 appear to be any appropriate connection with the fish. 

 No doubt, however, the respective peoples have reasons 

 for their nomenclatural selections. 



On a farm I once heard the farmer bawling to a boy 

 to bring out the evil. Being nonplussed by the unique 

 demand, I asked the farmer what he meant, and he replied : 



