90 ANGLERS' EVENINGS. 



the Fair may glide in imagination by your side and shew 

 you how to become "a complete angler." 



This water is a proof of what careful preservation will 

 do. The stock is assisted by artificial breeding so far as 

 trout is concerned ; the grayling have to look about for 

 themselves. From Bakewell to Rowsley there is not only 

 always a fair amount of fish, but in some places the river 

 is comparatively full. Of the takes of fish, I have it on 

 credible authority that in 1874 a gentleman, then residing 

 at Bakewell, took out of this river, between January and 

 December, upwards of twelve hundred fish ! Of ordinary 

 takes I have also proof of thirteen brace of fish in one day, 

 followed by eleven brace the next day. On good fishing 

 days, given all the essential conditions, six to eight brace 

 may be averaged. And what fish to be sure ! Bright, 

 silvery, and beautiful to behold — fish well brought up, in 

 fact highly educated, I promise you ; fish that will test 

 your skill, both to hook and afterwards to basket. I need 

 scarcely add that upon this water there is nothing allowed 

 but fair fly-fishing ; no ignoble death to these lordly fish 

 by vulgar worm or treacherous minnow ; no vile grub, or 

 bait of any kind. These October fish must be taken only 

 by the fly and " with brains, sir." 



As regards flies, the small hackles, red, dun, and 

 black of an angler's book ought to be good killers always, 

 and provided they be good hackles, and used by a work- 

 man, I do not doubt that they will hold their own against 

 the local flies. The local flies, however, are beautiful 

 specimens of the fly-maker's art. Many anglers may 

 hold fast to the famed bumbles, and beheve that they 



