4 8 



as my share. Since then I have killed several fish there 

 over four pounds, and one six pounds, in weight, being the 

 one I spoke of previously, and which is now to be seen in 

 my shop. 



The River Colne, Fairford, Gloucestershire, is a very 

 favourite stream of mine, and one which I consider by far 

 surpasses any other stream in England for producing 

 fine-flavoured trout. Forty years ago it was not uncommon 

 for anglers to fill their baskets with a sunk green drake, 

 dressed buzz ; but since then the fish have become more 

 enlightened, and now it is a difftcnlt matter to get a brace 

 with the floating flies, dressed ever so artistically, work as 

 hard as you may. I have seen good hands fish for three 

 or four days without getting a brace, there being, at the 

 same time, plenty of trout feeding on the natural fly. 

 This makes good my theory that the more 'a stream 

 is whipped, the more wary and shy the fish become. I 

 am convinced it is well stocked with trout, for I have stood 

 in one spot where I could command and throw over 

 seven or eight good fish, some of them over two pounds 

 in weight. This has been in the May fly season, when 

 they were feeding on the natural drake ; and I have tried 

 them with nearly every artificial drake, for over two hours, 

 to no purpose, and have at last sat down on my basket 

 and given way to some other angler, who has tried them 

 with no better success. The only reason I can give for 

 this is the fact of the stream being so much fished. I have 

 seen as many as eighteen or twenty rods all thrashing the 

 stream, and many of them fishing for days without getting 

 a single trout. This is easily accounted for, and unless 



