130 MOSTLY ABOUT TROUT 



was only one rod, who could thus dwell on 

 the best places and miss none of the water by 

 drifting while putting on a new fly or cast. 

 It is essential, when fly-fishing in salt water, 

 to use eyed flies. A little spot of brown rust 

 forms just where the gut touches the hook, 

 and very soon the fly drops off, if exposed 

 to the least strain ; with eyed hooks you 

 can get over the resultant danger of a break 

 by re-tying the fly to the gut, cutting off 

 half an inch thereof every time you do it, 

 which should be at least every quarter of 

 an hour. 



This was a different sort of day : a bright 

 one, with no wind, and perfectly calm, clear 

 sea water so clear that you could see every 

 little pebble and shell on the bottom in three 

 fathoms of water. The whole of that voe is 

 of almost that depth, rather deeper in parts, 

 excepting round the rocks arid waving beds 

 of umber-brown seaweed attached thereto. It 

 was so calm and still that the smallest rattle 

 of oars in rowlocks seemed to vibrate all over 

 the glassy surface of the bay. Our plan of 

 campaign was to muffle the rowlocks and to 

 paddle gently and aimlessly about, throwing 

 a long fine line as lightly as possible, letting 

 the flies sink well, and then drawing them, 



