THE FORGE VALLEY 109 



more than ten brace of trout be taken in a day. 

 There must be a superabundance of trout in this 

 valley, for I learn that some five thousand yearlings 

 were put in a year ago, and to these two thousand 

 have been added this year ; the probability is that 

 the river is overstocked, which also may account 

 for the smallness of the fish at the present time. 

 Doubtless here and there a big trout may be 

 hidden away close under the banks, but there was 

 no rise of fly to tempt them up. I was not long in 

 hooking three brace, of which I lost one brace, 

 and the others I put back, being, as I guessed, for 

 I had no measure with me, under eight inches. 

 When I met the keeper afterwards I found to my 

 grief that my rule of thumb measurement was 

 quite wrong according to true measurement I 

 had put back four nine-inch trout. I got only a 

 brace and a half afterwards, all of the same size, 

 and then came on such tempestuous weather that 

 I gave it up. 



I gave up my ticket to the keeper, and on 

 examining it, " Ah ! " said he, " I remember a 

 young gentleman of the same name as this who 

 was here about eighteen years ago for three days. 

 I remember him as well as if it was yesterday, for 

 he was the best fisherman I ever saw on this river. 

 Why, he carried off his ten brace of trout every 

 day and they were big 'uns here in those days 

 to say nothing of the lots he had to put back, as 

 being beyond his limit." I could only remark 

 that he must have a very good memory, otherwise 



