84 Rambles with a FisJiing-Rod. 



dashed at the March brown. Whir went the 

 reel, and away went the trout. But then there 

 was a sudden rush toward the bank, and the 

 dropper was securely anchored in the low 

 overhanging branch of a neighbouring willow. 

 The fish was out of reach of the landing-net, 

 and before the branch could be brought within 

 reach of the net, the trout gave himself a twist 

 and disappeared. Another small trout or two 

 was added to the basket, and a fair-sized fish 

 was risen at the beginning of the dead water 

 above the mill ; and by that time it was nec- 

 essary to turn our steps homeward, with only 

 half-a-dozen small trout. This first afternoon 

 on the Iton was rather provoking, because at 

 the mill a gentleman from Evreux was en- 

 countered also, like ourselves, an amateur de 

 la peche, who, with his small artificial min- 

 now, had secured a fine trout over a pound, and 

 a second nearly half the weight. 



Of course, in an English trout -stream, a 

 minnow would not have been allowed in water 

 which should have been kept exclusively for 

 fly-fishing; but in the chasse, the foreigner 

 looks rather to the bag than to the sport, 

 whatever be his nationality, as I have found 



