BECK-FISHING AMONG THE CHEVIOTS. 177 



neath them ; or where overhanging bushes, rocks, and 

 large stones, offer secure retreats for the fish, as well as 

 screens behind which the angler can keep himself com- 

 pletely concealed from view ; but in shallow streams, 

 with flat, shelving shores, the attempt is vain. 



I have often obtained a fine dish of trout by -adopt- 

 ing this method in the little leeks of the Cheviots, in 

 the neighbourhood of Wooler, in severe droughts in the 

 middle of summer when it would have been an impos- 

 sibility to procure them by any other method at least 

 during the day. My plan of procedure was as follows : 

 Armed with a sixteen-feet rod, a fine hook, and tackle 

 without any sinkers, I stood as far off as possible, and 

 contrived to stealthily drop a well-scoured small worm 

 over the bank edge, in places where it overhung the 

 water, and where the current had excavated a hollow 

 cavity underneath, deep enough to hold a trout. I then 

 allowed the current to roll the bait into and past all 

 such places, in advance of the rod and the remainder of 

 the line, both of which, as well as myself, I took the 

 utmost care to conceal as completely as practicable. 

 I may remark that, in fishing those small runners, it is 

 indispensable that the worm should sail down the current 

 in advance of the line ; and that the latter be kept suffi- 

 ciently taut to prevent any slack being carried down 

 before the bait, as it would undoubtedly alarm the fish, 

 and prevent them from taking it. While the angler 

 must recollect, that in thus fishing with a tight line, he 

 must instantly slacken it the moment he feels a tug, as 

 it is seldom indeed that a trout fairly closes his jaws on 



