128 THE WONDERFUL TROUT 



On the 8th. Bar. 30; bright sun; few 

 clouds; wind east, up. Twenty-nine trout, 

 10-|- Ibs., one rod. 



After that almost nothing, except on 20th 

 May twenty-two trout, 9 Ibs. (with worm 

 and Stewart tackle ; two, small, with fly). 



The weather continued sultry and thun- 

 derous. By May 15th the river was at its 

 lowest on record since 1826, as vouched for 

 by local residents. 



Slime on the stones and channel all the 

 time we were there. Dearth of river flies. 

 Much destroyed in larval stage by the ex- 

 posure of the channel and river-bed; and 

 could not hatch off in mid-stream for thick 

 coating of slime. All the water spring- 

 water, but unfortunately thermometers not 

 used. Many kelts dying of fungus. Trout 

 also beginning to show disease. But all this 

 time, and up to 17th May, and as far up as 

 the higher reaches of the river say 1000 to 

 1500 feet (as we ascertained from a fellow- 

 angler of scientific carefulness, L. Hinx- 

 man of the Geological Staff) trout were in 

 the PINK OF CONDITION. They were seen 

 ' ruttling ' like swine amongst the larvae 



