26o SALMON AND TROUT, 



If Salmon fishing be, as claimed by its devotees, the * noblest ' 

 branch of fly fishing, there can be no doubt whatever that 

 Trout fishing is the most popular branch ; and, indeed, good 

 Trout fishing appears likely soon to become as difficult to get as 

 Salmon fishing was twenty years ago. Comparatively, though 

 not positively, it is still, however, easy to obtain — just in pro- 

 portion, in fact, as there are a hundred streams and lakes con- 

 taining the former fish for one that produces the latter. 



As the taste for Trout fly fishing has increased — which 

 is only another way of saying that the Trout is more fished 

 for — so does the difficulty of catching him become more 

 conspicuous, and success must be sought not alone in a high 

 degree of skill in the actual use of the fly rod and line, but also 

 in refining to the very utmost every item of tackle employed. 

 To keep well out of sight of the fish it is proposed to catch is 

 another golden rule, rarely to be neglected with impunity in 

 these days of enlightenment and progress. Clearly in this case 



. . . Distance lends enchantment to the view, 



so far as at least one of the parties to the transaction is con- 

 cerned. 'Fine and far off"' is, therefore, a maxim invaluable 

 in both Trout and Grayling fishing, and appropriately intro- 

 duces the reader to Mr. H, R. Francis' article, whilst indicating 

 at the same time its scope and line of practice. 



H. C-P. 



