84 MOSTLY ABOUT TROUT 



gravel patch a few feet below the end of a weed- 

 bed. I stalked him in the approved fashion 

 from below, keeping myself and my rod out 

 of sight. I put several flies over him without 

 attracting his attention. I then managed, with 

 some difficulty, to drift a sunken fly past his nose 

 by the method described by Mr. Skues in his 

 Minor Tactics. Each time the fly was ignored. 

 Then I walked up the bank for a closer inspec- 

 tion of the fish. Much to my surprise, he allowed 

 me to come within about three yards without 

 paying the least attention to my movements. 

 The morning was passing away. The frying- 

 pan and gridiron were awaiting my return. 

 The predatory instincts of some cave-dwelling 

 forebear were strong within me. I threw the 

 gut-cast over his back and recovered it swiftly ; 

 I am afraid with some subconscious idea that 

 the hook might attach itself to his person. It 

 did not; but the strange thing was that even 

 then he took no notice he did not seem to be 

 even ticklish, much less alarmed. Then I laid 

 the rod itself gently on the trout's back, and drew 

 it smartly towards me to wake him up. Then 

 at last the fish withdrew with dignity, and a 

 gentle waving of his tail, into the fastness of 

 weeds. Maybe that trout was blind in one eye, 

 which would afford an explanation of his being 



