viii A MINIATURE STREAM 133 



fish was soon testing the five-ounce rod to 

 the full value of its half- guinea, dashing 

 madly about the pool, and twice jumping 

 out of the water. Fortunately there were 

 few weeds, and the trout did not attempt 

 to bolt up-stream, and before long he was 

 being lifted triumphantly out in the Pier- 

 haven landing-net, a simple affair of cost 

 proportionate to the rod. Spring- balance 

 the angler had none, so he could only 

 estimate his capture's weight at half a pound 

 or thereabouts, reflecting that though half a 

 pound is no great matter in itself, it means 

 a good deal coming out of a pool barely 

 three yards in length and two in width. 

 This fish, too, was dark on the back, but 

 was beautifully golden on the sides, well 

 spotted, and very plump. 



After the trout had been killed and placed 

 amid some dock-leaves in Pierhaven's canvas 

 bag, the fisherman left the pool well satis- 

 fied, and began to fish up-stream. It was 

 not easy fishing. In places the brook's 

 two feet of width were reduced to one by 

 overhanging brambles, which stretched out 

 interfering tentacles, and grasped the fly 

 before ever it could reach the water. That, 



