The Thames Trout Fisherman 107 



out to try for a trout under and around the 

 smallest and most beautiful fall of water at 

 Hurley, and the blue haze on the hillsides, 

 the 'woven caresses' of the trees over that 

 long, delicious lane of water (emerald-green 

 in certain Hghts), and the same thing where 

 convenient of young men and maidens, are 

 the merest details to him. He heeds them 

 not. 



The angler came round in a punt from 

 the lock at about six o'clock on a still August 

 evening. The sun had dipped behind the 

 heights of Hurley, but it was still so warm 

 that he sat in the punt with his coat off 

 and his forearm bare. He was bronzed by 

 perhaps many weeks' exposure to the river 

 sun, which in a single day will, like a very 

 furnace, scorch the skin off the face and even 

 the arms of an unseasoned oarsman. In ad- 

 dition to being free of coat and waistcoat, 

 he wore white flannels and tennis-shoes. 

 There is no angler who understands, or who 

 is able to carry out and enjoy, the art of 

 keeping cool so well as the Thames trout 



