OTHER MEANS OF CATCHING SEA-TROUT 55 



and the full glory of the stars gave enough light to enable 

 us to see the river plainly and the dark bushes bordering 

 the far bank. As no breeze played upon the trees and 

 undergrowth, the silence was intense, for even the river 

 flowed quietly. So subdued was the atmosphere we could 

 almost hear the grass grow. Ever and anon, a flitting 

 bat collided with my extended line, causing me to make 

 a momentary strike in expectation of a feeding sea-trout. 

 Meanwhile, from the tail section of the pool came repeated 

 sounds of slight plops and reel windings. At last, wonder- 

 ing what was the meaning of these signs of action, I 

 remarked to my nearby companion, " Your friend appears 

 to be doing some business." A laugh greeted my com- 

 ment, and then came the reply, " Yes. He is throwing a 

 worm. He does not believe in a fly/' Thus was another 

 alleged sportsman and illicit wormer unmasked. 



However, if you must worm, be true to yourself and 

 to your confreres by playing a straight bat. These 

 peccadillos which I have described lead nowhere and they 

 do not hoodwink your fellows who will undoubtedly think 

 better of you if you have the courage of your convictions. 



The worst example of duplicity to come to my know- 

 ledge occurred several years back. A small party, stay- 

 ing at a country house for the purpose of participating in 

 the joys of sea-trout fishing in private waters, included 

 one member who kept himself somewhat aloof from the 

 other anglers, and when arrangements were made for a 

 day's visit to a distant length, the detached one worked 

 in the home waters ; while if the consensus of views 

 was in favour of a trial in the immediate stretch, the only 

 objector departed for a lonely jaunt far upstream. 



Strange as it may seem, this peculiar person was always 

 decrying the use of worms, although the other rodsters 

 were not interested in the irrelevant subject. 



One morning, having to deal with some pressing corre- 



