A DAY ON THE ITGHEN 91 



First, the soaking of the gut. Some folk 

 wait until breakfast-time, and then use the 

 slop-basin, with only hot water from the jug 

 available to fill it. I always use my soap-dish, 

 first removing the soap in its tray, and cold 

 water, and I leave a gut cast and a few points 

 to soak there during breakfast, coming up 

 afterwards to fetch them. If we are lucky 

 enough to live here, the rod is up already, with 

 the reel on it, and the line threaded through 

 the ringan exasperating operation, it always 

 seems to me, taking much too long when you 

 are longing to start, especially if you find, after 

 attaching the cast, that in your keenness to 

 be off you have missed out a ring, and have 

 to go through the whole operation again. Then 

 the soaked cast goes on, a point and a fly 

 attached ; the cast is passed round the back of 

 the reel, and the fly is then hooked into one 

 of the rings on the rod, a touch of paraffin is 

 put on the fly with a brush, the rod is stuck 

 in the grass by the spear in the butt, and you 

 pull on long waders for the water-meadows. 

 Then you sling the fishing-bag on your shoulder, 

 landing-net attached, pocket your luncheon and 

 a flask (or a couple of bananas in the place 

 thereof) and mentally muster your kit. Rod 

 and appurtenances as already described. Little 



