70 TROUT FISHING 



the stones on its bed, or clustered in beads 

 on my cast of flies. 



Recollection of the effects of tempera- 

 tures upon the water will help in a study 

 of the influence of temperatures upon the 

 trout. Whilst approaching this subject 

 with a sense that it is complex, I am not 

 without hope of being able to present con- 

 siderations which will divest it of much 

 mystery. 



Often you hear an angler explaining 

 away an empty basket by saying that the 

 weather on the water was too " muggy " or 

 too " close " ; but you never hear him say- 

 ing that it was too warm. In his estima- 

 tion heat in itself is no hindrance to his 

 efforts : it is only the conditions which 

 sometimes accompany heat that are a 

 trouble. On the other hand, he will often 

 tell you, without hesitation, that the 

 weather has been too cold. Cold, he will 

 say, puts down the trout. 



The proposition, which is usually ab- 

 solute, made without reference to times 

 or seasons, is not in accord with experi- 



