CONSEQUENCES OF FISHING DOWN STREAM. 23 



lose too much time and ground by this back- 

 ward process. In my opinion, these objections 

 are not fatal. If you keep a proper distance 

 from the side of the stream, you will obviate the 

 first objection. The second I think of little mo- 

 ment, for sometimes you cannot fish too carefully 

 or too slowly, inch by inch, especially if the stream 

 be a choice spot and fish upon the rise, whilst, 

 under contrary circumstances, your progress may 

 be more rapid, hurrying over chanceless parts, 

 and fishing for luck quickly right a-head, hasten- 

 ing on to more favourable localities. 



There is but one main objection to commenc- 

 ing at the head of a stream, and I do not see 

 how it can be well got over. You hook a fish at 

 the head of a stream, and must of course play him 

 downwards. What is the consequence ? Is it 

 not plain, that you must disturb many fish below 

 yo'u, over which you have not as yet thrown your 

 flies? I think it is evident, and if I did not 

 think so, I should be decidedly in favour of down- 

 stream fishing, as being the most rapid and ap- 

 parently the most natural way. At the head of 

 a stream you hook a large and game fish. He 

 darts across it, down it, through it in every di- 

 rection, at one time plashing on the surface of 

 the water, at another doggedly struggling beneath 

 it, or rushing through it, as if an otter were at 

 c 4 



