FLY-FISHING FOR TROUT AND GRAYLING. 



" How far is it up stream from here ? " queries our 

 companion. 



"Better than two miles, sir; you can do it in twenty 

 minutes or thereabouts." 



Having no special desire to test the accuracy of this 

 statement, we ultimately agreed to fish up. After the 

 lapse of about an hour or so, we arrived upon the 

 spot indicated, in company with the keeper. Here, for 

 about a stone's throw from the bridge, were dense 

 masses of weeds, through which the water passed in 

 narrow channels. The position was not of the most 

 favourable, there being in the immediate background 

 a display of evergreen shrubs, etc., which looked ill 

 for the safety of the tackle. " Well, here we are at 

 last," exclaims our pupil. 



" Yes, gentlemen," put in the old man, " there's 

 any amount o' fish in, but, plague tack um, nobody 

 can get um out; the best fisherman we have canner 

 manage um." 



" Ah ! how do you account for that ? " we en- 

 quired. 



" Oh, them weeds bothers um ; they loses the fish 

 and tackle an' all;" and after delivering himself of this 

 gratifying reflection, the old keeper calmly inserted 

 his pipe between his teeth, and his hands in the 

 pockets of his breeches, as a preliminary to seeing the 

 fun. At the second or third cast we hooked a fish, 

 and by a strict and prompt application of the tactics 

 previously described, the fish wriggled through the 

 breakers, in a style thoroughly earnest and effective. 

 Once clear of the weeds we relaxed the pressure upon 



