114 WHERE TO FISH. 



the fish. Again, if the fish is only but slightly hooked 

 at first, it is very evident that the more tenderly we deal 

 with him, the better will be the chance of the hold being 

 retained ; and that a single impatient or impetuous tug 

 will instantly break it away, and grant him a release, 

 when our friend (the trout) profugit, cachinus parium 

 succedens. 



WHERE TO FISH. 



I will now say a few words about the best method 

 of fishing a river, supposing the angler is a stranger to 

 it, and that his operations are somewhat obstructed by 

 the unwelcome presence of a host of other competitors 

 for the honours of the day. 



An esteemed and valued friend of mine, and a first- 

 class angler, says, in his description of the tributaries of 

 the Tweed recently published in the Field : " Persever- 

 ance does much, and by keeping the hook continually 

 in the water, whether in angling for salmon or trout, 

 the chance of getting a rise is much in the angler's 

 favour." Now this is worthy of every attention, as it 

 is unnecessary to point out a fact which is self-evident, 

 that it is impossible for any angler to catch fish, while 

 he is wandering along the banks of the stream with the 

 flies in his hand, or his line floating in the wind ; while, 

 on the other hand, it is equally an unprofitable waste of 

 time, to keep pottering and thrashing a pool a dozen 

 times over, when the fish in it stubbornly refuse to rise. 

 Every experienced fisher is acquainted with the fact, 

 that while " the feed" is completely off one stream or 



