WEATHER TO FISH: (OR GAME FISHING AND THE ELEMENTS). By Jack Meyler.

1990 1st edition. 8vo (142 x 223mm). Ppxii,104. B/w illustrations. Laminated boards, issued without a dust-wrapper.

This is a good introduction to observing and predicting and the weather, interpreting meteorological reports, and especially, the practical implications of meteorological conditions for the flyfisherman: "temperature, its effect on the dissolved oxygen content of the water, cloud cover, sunshine and shadow, barometric pressure trends, humidity, wind strength and direction" and a lot else besides with much analysis of the effect on fish and implications for technique and fly selection. Contents include: Part One: Introduction - The basic elements; Game fish defined; Our ladies; Game fish, their behaviour and metabolism; Part Two: Air (Weather) - General; Fishing and flying; Meteorology - the study of the weather; Constitution of the air; Temperatures and its effects upon water and upon fish; Relative humidity; Barometric pressure; Wind; Pressure systems and isobars; Buys Ballot's law; Thermal winds; Sea and land breezes; Surface winds; Other local winds; Basic knowledge required; Veering and backing winds; Pressure gradient; Upper winds; Wind measurement; Air masses; How to use wind to the best advantage when game fishing; A few sayings based on folklore; Cloud; A few more sayings based on folklore; Fog and mist; Haze; Precipitation; Rain; Snow; Dew; Hoar-frost; Thunderstorms, hail and icing conditions; Frontal systems; Warm fronts; Cold fronts; Part Three: Earth, rocks and an alder tree; Part Four: Water - Constitution; Pollution; Alkalinity and acidity; Oxygen content and fish respiration; Flow and level of water; Density of water; How water freezes; How water warms up; Soft and hard water; Height and colour of water; Water temperature; Part Five: Fire - Sun; Light; Vision of the fish; Rainbows and how they are formed; Sunrise and sunset; Moon and the solunar theory; Part Six: Intermediate conclusions, mainly affecting trout and their feed; Part Seven: Oxygen - possible and probable effects on salmon - What does make a salmon take?; But why do they come on the take when they do?; Observations on the recorded conditions; Part Eight: Final conclusions; Part Nine: Some more tales (but very little to do with the elements) - Coincidence; Fools in the water; Confucius, he say; Epilogue; Appendices include:- Seven deadly sins of game fishing; Seven golden rules of game fishing; Buchan's cold spells; Size of bait or fly.