HAUNTS OF THE SEA-TROUT 63 



the past has yielded hundreds of fish yearly. In one 

 pool alone a friend of mine has accounted for as many 

 as 160 sea-trout in one season, and the best of these weighed 

 ten pounds and five ounces, but on this water, during 

 the war years, sea-trout fishing has been completely spoilt. 

 There is still a splendid run of fish every season, but to 

 try for them is nigh hopeless, as day after day ten or a 

 dozen holiday anglers go marching up and down the 

 watercourse as though on patrol. 



I do not mind how many fish are brought to hand, for 

 that has little or no effect on the sport, but I do resent 

 fish being put down by this senseless wading. The river 

 in question averages no more than fifteen yards in width, 

 and any ordinary rodster should have no difficulty in 

 covering the water from either bank. 



What the object is of this wading is a mystery to me. 

 Certainly it cannot be for the purpose of catching fish, 

 and I can but assume that the idea is simply to dress 

 the part. 



I have watched scores of visiting anglers, some of 

 whom have spent a whole day tramping about in the 

 water, but I have yet to see one hook a sea-trout. A 

 member of this irresponsible crowd worked his way up 

 half a mile of water in about a quarter of an hour late 

 one evening, and when he reached me he shouted to me, 

 " Where are the fish ? " Although I had a brace of 

 nice sea-trout in my bag, I was too disgusted with his 

 stupid action to say other than " I don't know/' 



On talking over the subject recently with a few local 

 fishers, one expressed his opinion that this wading business 

 is the outcome of crass ignorance. I may add that, of 

 the many local anglers, men who catch sea-trout, not one 

 wades, and each is a firm believer in the policy of keeping 

 well back from the edge of the bank. 



During fine weather we are content to wear studded 



