STRIKING THE TROUT. 105 



cation ensues. This takes place sooner when the 

 trout is drawn down a strong stream ; so that the 

 popular notion of pulling a trout down the water to 

 drown it is correct, though the word is rather mis- 

 applied. If the trout is hooked by the outside of 

 the body, the respiratory organs are left free, enabling 

 it to run a long time ; and when it does come to 

 the side, the angler is disappointed at the small size 

 of a fish which has been making such a desperate 

 struggle. 



In fishing up, the rise of a trout is by no means 

 so distinct as in fishing down. They frequently 

 seize the fly without breaking the surface, and the 

 first intimation the angler gets of their presence is 

 a slight pull at the line. The utmost attention is 

 therefore necessary to strike the moment the least 

 motion is either seen or felt. This is in some 

 measure owing to the flies being in general a little 

 under water, but principally to the fact that trout 

 take a fly coming down stream in a quieter and 

 more deadly manner than a fly going up. Seeing 

 it going across and up stream, they seem afraid it 

 may escape, make a rush at it, and in their hurry 

 to seize, very frequently miss it altogether. It is 

 very different in angling up stream : the . trout see 

 the fly coming towards them, rise to meet it, and 

 seize it without any dash, but in a firm deadly 

 manner. 



When you hook a trout, if it is a small one and 

 you are not wading, pull it on shore at once ; if you 



