344 THE KEEPER'S BOOK 



see that the pools are not fished before the owner comes 

 down to the water. There is nothing more annoying 

 to the angler than to find, from marks on the sand or 

 grass, that the pools have already been fished by a 

 poacher an hour or two before. 



If the gillie is unable to keep watch in the morning, 

 he should stretch a few threads across the paths where 

 the poachers are likely to pass ; he will at once be able 

 to detect if any one has been on the paths since he was 

 last there. Should he find the threads broken he can 

 set a watch for the intruders. 



The gillie should have a knowledge of the time when 

 the fish begin to run up, where and when they begin to 

 rest at different seasons ; the effects of snow water, 

 frost, and fresh water on their running ; and the time 

 the river will take in coming into ply after a flood, so 

 that he can advise the angler when his water is ready 

 to be fished. 



The temperature of the water should be taken 

 daily. Much can be learned by doing this. When 

 a daily record of the temperature of the water is kept, 

 the gillie will have some idea what size of fly to re- 

 commend, and whether bait-fishing should be resorted 

 to or not. 



A gillie who has an interest in his work will take 

 every opportunity of watching the river, the fish, and 

 the direction of the wind. He should also have a know- 

 ledge of all the pools and streams their depth, the lie 

 of the fish, and the state of the river which suits the fish 



