HAUNTS OF THE SEA-TROUT 57 



The greatest asset that any angler can possess is a 

 thorough knowledge of his river. He should be acquainted 

 with the various pools, the many stickles, the customary 

 depth of the water and last, though not least, the manner 

 in which the river rises as the result of heavy rain. From 

 these data he can form a fairly reliable opinion as to the 

 probable resting-places of the fish. 



For example, if the summer level of a river, excluding 

 from our calculations deep pools and shallow runs, registers 

 two feet, we know that the sea-trout, providing that they 

 have left the estuary, will be hiding in the pools. Sup- 

 posing that sufficient rain falls to cause the level to reach 

 two feet six inches, we may be sure that the fish will 

 travel farther up the river, and, unless more fish leave 

 the estuary, the pools that held sea-trout before the 

 arrival of the spate will be without fish afterwards. In 

 fact, during a freshet, it is not unsual at night-time to 

 hear the sea-trout splashing up the stickles. 



A river running, say, thirty miles from its source to 

 the sea, will hold a certain head of fish, but those fish 

 will not be evenly distributed throughout the length of 

 the water, as sea-trout are ever on the move upstream 

 if the conditions suit them. 



The angler who lives near the river has every aid at 

 his service, for not only is he cognisant of the peculi- 

 arities of the river, but he can work intelligently in 

 accordance with rainfalls, together with first-hand details 

 regarding the rise and fall of the water. The stranger, 

 however, is at a big disadvantage, and he must rely on 

 the help and advice of the " locals/' 



But there are a few generalities with which every 

 visiting angler should be acquainted, and if he acts upon 

 these he should not return with an empty creel. I will 

 therefore mention them for the benefit of the novice. 



The shoal sea-trout usually take shelter in deep water, 



