60 AN ANGLER'S SEASON 



fish that rise ; sometimes, indeed, it is 

 only the very small. On other occasions 

 all the trout in the water are eager to 

 feed. These are the occasions to which 

 attention is invited. What happens ? 

 Do you catch a great many small fish, 

 and a large one only now and then ? 

 You do not. Large ones are the rule ; 

 small ones are the exception. When 

 all the fish are disposed to rise, a small 

 trout seizes your fly only when there is 

 no large one near. If a large trout is 

 feeding on flies, small trout close beside 

 him rise only when, as at the instant 

 when he himself is taking an insect, they 

 see a chance to do so without incurring 

 his anger. They know that if they took 

 what he himself wants he would turn and 

 snap at them. 



This is not speculative doctrine. Here 

 and there, either when fishing yourself or 

 when watching some one else, you can 

 stand at a place from which all that goes 

 on in a pool is to be seen. If you do, 

 you will find that what has been said 



