274 SALMON AND TROUT. 
consent amongst anglers in favour of up-stream casting that it 
would seem superfluous to give the reasons which make it prefer- 
able in most cases. I am rather inclined to remind brother 
anglers that the rule must not be made absolute, and to point out 
some cases in which the opposite course should be adopted. 
And first, if in fishing up stream you would have a strong sun at 
your back, you will betray your presence less by making your 
beat downwards, This, however, must not involve the absurd 
blunder of hauling your flies against the current, thus making an 
unnatural ripple which cannot but alarm a trout of any experi- 
ence. In fishing down stream, begin if possible from a stand 
several yards distant from the margin, and throw lightly over 
‘the in-shore water a little above you, lengthening your cast by 
degrees till you have covered three-fourths of the width. Then, 
and not till then, you may advance warily to the bank and try 
the deadly cast under the opposite shore. From first to last 
you must take care that the movement of your flies be natural ; 
that they go down easily with the stream, with occasional slight 
checks from the wrist to mimic the struggles of a drowning insect 
and produce that play of legs and wings which is so irresistible 
to a hungry trout. Retire from the bank after working out 
your cast, and repeat the same process a dozen yards farther 
down. If you hook a good fish, let him fight up stream as long 
‘as he will, that you may avoid disturbing unfished water in 
bringing him to the net ; but should he insist on a downward 
rush do your best to keep ahead of him, showing yourself no 
more than is absolutely necessary. The portion of the stream 
which you are thus compelled to hurry by should be allowed a 
good spell of rest before you move up again to fish it. 
And here I must be allowed a brief digression. Fish get 
an inkling of your movements in two ways—by sight, and by a 
sense of vibration which is equivalent to hearing, and you must 
be on your guard against betraying yourself either way. If the 
river you are fishing runs through a rocky bed, you need not 
walk warily except for the safety of your ankles. But if it runs 
through boggy soil, or between banks of loose and crumbling 
