THE WIND 49 



been sufficient to refresh the water and 

 make their humour light. Sometimes, 

 too, in a day of storm there are intervals 

 of lull ; and if the trout rise in the hours 

 of ruffling they rise equally well when the 

 lake is smooth. The refreshment of the 

 water and the fish has not passed with 

 the passing of the wind. 



Still, it would be wrong to suppose 

 that the character of the tackle is unim- 

 portant. It is beyond all doubt that fine 

 gut is needed on still water. One cannot 

 be absolutely certain that this is because 

 the trout actually see the gut if it be not 

 fine ; but it should be borne in mind that, 

 apart from the question whether it is 

 visible, thick gut has at least two objec- 

 tionable qualities. It is less pliable than 

 fine gut, and deprives the flies of the light 

 and airy motions which they should have. 

 It carries with it a shower of spray, 

 which falls upon the water immediately 

 after the flies and must tend to alarm the 

 fish. 



These are considerations deserving more 



