NOTES FROM A DIARY 133 



Each cruising fish has his definite and fixed 

 beat, so it is best to ascertain the course 

 before commencing operations. Lying in 

 the grass, you will hear a gentle " plop " far 

 under the dense tangle of overhanging 

 brushwood. The next rise sounds a little 

 nearer. Now is the moment to carefully 

 take aim and flick in your Black Gnat. If 

 the fly falls near old " cruiser's " path, he 

 will probably take it. If not, the fly 

 must be left on the water till the fish has 

 passed, when it can be worked into better 

 position to await the second lap. As a 

 last resort the fly may be gently twitched 

 to attract attention. 



Jime 6th. — Fish xvere taking the fly for 

 a couple of hours in tJie vioi^ning. Later 

 they took a claret fly fished up-stream, but 

 would not look at a floater. 



The Breton trout has not yet acquired 

 the habits of the confirmed " bulger." 

 When he does feed, he dines upstairs like a 

 gentleman ; or perhaps he has been forced 

 into good manners on the surface by pre- 

 vious unpleasant experiences in the base- 

 ment, coarse underwater tricks of the wily 

 poacher, sundry recollections of low-lying 



