CHAPTEE V. 



CHEEPER AND MAY-FLY FISHING. 



WE are aware that some ultra-fastidious fishers 

 decry all baits, and look with special aversion on 

 such lures as creeper, May-fly, cad-bait, etc. 

 The best thing such persons can do is to skip 

 this chapter altogether ; they should certainly not 

 try any of these baits lest they be converted. 



Creeper and May-fly are the larval and com- 

 plete stages of the same insect the stone-fly of 

 England, the May-fly and Gauger of Scotland, 

 Perla Maxima and Perla Marginata of entomo- 

 logists. 



In any fast stream during the end of April 

 and in May, on lifting a broad flat stone in 

 shallow water, several ugly customers will be 

 seen scuttling off, and perhaps one or two may 

 be found adhering to the under surface of the 

 stone. Examine one of them ; it answers the 

 popular description, " a rum 'un to look at a 

 beggar to go." The usual length is from three- 

 fourths of an inch to one inch. A small venomous- 

 looking head, three segments overlapping one 



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