196 



Brown Trout 



and soon thereafter return to the main stream, where they remain in the 

 deep pools till March, when food is more plentiful. In April, when 

 the flies begin to appear blue duns first, and then March browns 

 they begin to leave the deep pools and come on to the shallow streams, 

 where the flies are most abundant. At this time they often run up 

 rivers for a considerable distance. In large streams they are generally 

 in the best condition about the i5th of May, while in the smaller streams 

 they are not in good condition till June; and, strange to say, in the 

 south of England, on the Itchen, trout are not in good condition until 



>*.****** 



i < 



FIG. 198. 3-lb. Loch Crosophuill Trout, Sutherland. June 1900. 



they have had at least a week's feeding on. Mayflies, which is generally 

 about the first week of June. 



On nearly all the northern rivers there is an abundance of 

 February reds, blue duns, and March browns. The March browns 

 are nearly as large as Mayflies, and the trout feeding on them soon 

 come into perfect condition. On many of the streams of the south of 

 England no March browns appear. This is owing to the sluggish 

 nature of the rivers and the want of round boulders in the bottom, of 

 which the larvae of the March browns are extremely fond. Their 

 thin flat bodies appear to be adapted for whirling round the stones, 

 which protect them from their enemies. 



Flies bring trout into condition much quicker than the food they 

 obtain on the bottom. A cold, backward season keeps back the 



