110 TROUT FISHING 



belief for ordinary occasions. But one recognises 

 that they may be required some day, and possibly 

 one has memories of days on which they were 

 essential. 



Some of these flies are possibly only needed if 

 one is on the water at a certain time of year. The 

 grannom, for instance, is a creature with a well- 

 defined season, often a short one. Where it occurs 

 you generally know when it is due more or less. So 

 too with the Mayfly and Welshman's button on the 

 south-country streams, and such a fly as the gravel- 

 bed on some of the mountain rivers. Other flies, 

 which also have definite seasons, according to my 

 experience may or may not be wanted. Insects 

 like the hawthorn and the brown ant are about each 

 year at their special times, but it does not follow 

 that they come within reach of the trout. If they 

 do you may want imitations of them very badly. 

 I have once or twice been very glad of having a 

 few imitations of the hawthorn in my fly-book, and 

 have owed a modest basket or so to its agency. 



But the most noteworthy instance of its value 

 that I ever came across was not a personal experi- 

 ence. This was on the Exe in May. It was lovely 

 weather, the water was rather low, and the half- 

 dozen rods at the hotel had for some days been doing 

 but moderately. I myself had been counting my 



