104 THE WONDERFUL TROUT 



larvae, or of stonefly and creeper, fed upon 

 by what the fishing papers term ' tailers/ 

 produces a similar cessation from surface 

 food, but scarcely lasting so long as an elver 

 stodge. Worm we never consider has a 

 similar ' stodging ' effect, or if so only for a 

 very short time, for one reason, viz., trout 

 principally take to worm after they attain to 

 their best fly condition, or again after they 

 have been luxuriating in elvers. They do feed 

 on worms at all times more or less ; but a 

 day or two, or indeed a few hours, in a flood 

 feeding on green worms suffices for them. 

 We cannot believe that green worms feed or 

 satisfy or improve the muscular condition of 

 fish as fly does, and green worms in a spate 

 are bound to scour the fish more than to feed 

 them. Perhaps we might find in worm a 

 natural provision of nature as a blood- 

 purifier and purge for trout, as green grass 

 is taken by a dog for a vomit. 



We usually find that large trout are seldom 

 in equal condition i.e. as regards shape and 

 firmness of flesh to small trout in the same 

 river, and this lack of condition extends far 

 into the season ; indeed, rarely are big trout 



