DOVE DALE REVISITED 143 



but of course they soon become free to riparian 

 owners outside its limits, as they migrate up or 

 down stream. The fishing hereabout is ex- 

 cellent." 



We met Mr. Lock, the keeper, a friend of 

 all at our hotel. He is a first-rate fly fisherman, 

 and maker of the particular flies to which the 

 Dove trout and grayling are most partial. He 

 astonished us by saying that three days ago he 

 had caught seven brace of fine grayling, whilst 

 we experts of the I. W. could catch none. On 

 telling this to the Master he fully explained the 

 mystery to our entire satisfaction, for we had 

 begun to doubt our own infallibility. 



" Pooh ! " said he, " anybody can catch those 

 tame fish ! They are so strictly preserved up 

 in those wilds that, unlike our wild and pre- 

 ternaturally cautious fish down in the lower 

 waters of the Dove and the Manifold, these 

 highlanders will go madly at anything that is 

 put before them." Thus did the Master 

 seek to soothe our minds and restore our 

 equanimity. 



As we approached Dove Holes, the northern 

 entrance to Dove Dale, the shades of evening 



