98 MISCELLANEOUS OBSERVATIONS 



which nothing in all my experience in angling has 

 been more provoking, and which this thin, pliant, two 

 or three inches at the top will thoroughly prevent, 

 without making any observable difference in the 

 general spring of the rod. It is also serviceable in 

 making a large trout, when hooked, keep down in 

 the water, and not spang and spatter on the surface, 

 beating the hook from his mouth ;* and this (over 

 and above your necessary means in lowering the fore 

 part of your rod to near the surface) at a slanting 

 angle to right or left as may be, to keep him down 

 in the water till" he get accustomed to be led tamely, 

 like a horse in breaking tackle, after which he will 

 keep sleekly below, and come ashore resignedly. 



This, recommended from our own practice, is upon 

 the whole more pleasant fishing than wading five or 

 seven hours even in boots, not to say in stockings, 

 and sometimes to middle waist in cold spring days, 

 or early summer weather, as I have often done, 

 labouring with a longer rod than here recommended, 

 to throw far out to where the trouts were resorting, 

 endeavouring to fill a basket with twenty-four pound 

 weight. This you pursue with your limbs benumb- 

 ed, till coming home, you require to be rubbed down 

 like a hunting horse an hour in your stall, or rather 

 before a fire, till you find the circulation beginning 



