AS A FISHING GILLIE 345 



best. This knowledge is most important, and by the 

 possession of it much of the angler's time can be saved. 

 To acquire this knowledge requires years of careful 

 observation on the part of the gillie, although much 

 valuable information may be got from older fishermen 

 who know the beats. 



The gillie should discover the effect of the sun upon 

 the pools, the direction of the wind that catches certain 

 of them, and the best side from which the pool should 

 be fished. 



When the river is low and out of ply the whole beat 

 should be carefully inspected, and all dangerous roots 

 and sticks, on which a fish might foul, should be 

 removed. 



The croys, if any, should be repaired, the paths 

 along the banks put in order, and any parts of the banks 

 of pools looked to after a flood. As a rule, far too little 

 attention is given to these questions, with the result 

 that many fine pools become worthless. The clever 

 gillie does not need to be told this ; he is always think- 

 ing how he can improve his fishing by erecting a croy 

 at one point and another one on the opposite side, so 

 as to contract a wide part into a narrow part, and thus 

 form new pools and improve others, or by rolling a 

 stone into a pool to make a rest for the fish. This 

 week (20th October) I killed three salmon behind 

 a stone which a keeper rolled into a pool on the 

 river Earn two years ago, where no fish had rested 

 before. 



