122 A SCOTTISH FLY-FISHER 



be raised and missed, the boat is over it before the 

 angler has time to repeat his cast, or so near it that, 

 should it again approach the fly, the probability of 

 hooking it is quite infinitesimal. In the circumstances, 

 the angler is sure to cast in too great haste ; in a haste 

 which inevitably defeats his object, and sometimes leads 

 to unfortunate results. While, as has been already 

 said, a fish is being played, the boat drifts to leeward, 

 passing over others which, under more favourable con- 

 ditions, would certainly grace the basket. Every trout 

 killed is killed at the sacrifice of another. 



Would the angler present his fly to every trout in 

 front of him, he must adopt a different plan. Having 

 chosen the stretch of water he desires to fish, he should 

 have the boat taken to leeward, and instruct the boat- 

 man to describe a course obliquely across and slightly 

 up-wind, while he himself should cast to windward. 

 The distance traversed by the boat before she is put 

 about is a matter of detail. With the boat so disposed, 

 every yard of water may be searched with care, and 

 few, if any, trout deprived of an opportunity of con- 

 sidering the fly. Should a fish be missed, the angler 

 need not let the incident affect his equanimity ; he may 

 cast again as calmly and deliberately as he pleases. 

 Unless the fisherman himself manipulates the net, it 



