LOCH-FISHING 123 



will be found impossible to keep the boat in position 

 during the entire play of a fish ; when the gillie has, for 

 a moment, dropped the oars, she will necessarily drift 

 down wind, but she drifts over water already fished, 

 leaving that ahead still undisturbed. The method can, 

 of course, be followed only when the wind permits, and 

 it is fatiguing to the angler. As it also entails some 

 extra labour on the boatman, he is certain to have at 

 hand abundant, if unconvincing, reasons for adhering 

 to the time-hallowed system of drifting broadside down 

 the wind. 



If the angler be ignorant of the art of casting into 

 the wind, or the wind be so strong that it is impossible 

 to throw a fly against it, drifting becomes compulsory. 

 But the boat should drift stern first. Her head should 

 be held to the wind and the boatman be at the oars 

 prepared to check her course or alter her direction on 

 instruction from the angler or in the exercise of his 

 own judgment. Should a fish rise to, but fail to secure, 

 the fly, the gillie, by a stroke of the oars, keeps the 

 boat above him and enables the angler to cast over 

 him again. As soon as a fish is hooked, the way is 

 taken off the boat and she is held in position until he 

 has been brought on board, when drifting is resumed. 

 That the boatman may be free to give himself entirely 



