176 A SCOTTISH FLY-FISHER 



within his creel they have disappeared, to return no 

 more to-night. He has taken eleven fish, averaging 

 fully a pound in weight, but, anxious to obtain the 

 dozen, determines, spite of long experience, to continue 

 fishing. The water, lately dimpled everywhere by 

 feeding trout, is now tranquil and quiet, and after a 

 quarter of an hour's unprofitable labour he is compelled 

 to desist, his tale still incomplete. 



The following extract from my note- book concerns 

 just such an occasion as that I have endeavoured to 

 describe: — ^" April 20th, 1901. Evening, 7.30 to 8.30, 

 after a bright and exceptionally warm day. Wind in 

 the morning east, during the day south-west, now south- 

 east, and scarcely strong enough to rufBe the surface of 

 the water. Several fish on move, of which I rose five, 

 hooked four, and killed three of four pounds weight. 

 With one exception, they were caught by casting into 

 the ring produced by a rising fish and permitting the 

 fly to sink. Two were taken on a small Red and Teal; 

 the other on a Grouse and Claret." 



There are, however, conditions under which even 

 the finest evening proves a disappointment to us. It 

 is said that fly-fishing may be successfully pursued by 

 the pale light of the moon. While there is every 

 reason to believe the statement true, it finds no support 



