THE MOOR -BURN. 195 



other time can you distinguish the snug retreat of these 

 little tyrants which indeed they often leave, during the 

 slightest flood, in search of prey. By fishing up the 

 stream, your head will be on a level with the different 

 eddies and pools, as they successively present themselves, 

 and the rest of your person out of sight. Hold the baited 

 hook with the left hand, jerking out the rod, under-handed, 

 with your right, so as to make the bait fall softly at the 

 lower end of the pool. The trout always take their station 

 either there or at the top where the water flows in, ready to 

 pounce on worms, snails, slugs, &c. as they enter or leave 

 the pool. Should a trout seize the bait, a little time may 

 be given to allow it to gorge, which it will most likely do 

 without much ceremony. If large, care must be taken to 

 prevent it from getting to the top of the lyn, which may 

 probably harbour another expectant. The best plan is, if 

 possible, to persuade it to descend into the pool below.* 

 Having deposited the half-pounder in your creel, you 

 will now crawl upon hands and knees, just so near the top 

 of the lyn as will enable you to drop the bait immediately 

 below the bubbling foam nearly as favourite a station for 

 an over-grown monopolising trout as the other. Except 



* In fishing a small pool, where you have reason to think the salmon 

 have congregated, the same method ought to be adopted. When you hook 

 one, tumble him over out of the pool down stream ; at all events, prevent 

 him, if you possibly can, from disturbing the throat, where there may be 

 some more. If the fish are at all tractable when first hooked, several 

 may in this way be taken out of the same pool ; whereas by fishing down 

 stream, should a salmon be hooked at the throat of the pool, he will 

 so frighten the others that very probably no more may rise. 



