208 THE TROUT ARE RISING 



and two brown trout. As 1 looked, and looked, 

 at those splendid creatures I was thrilled by their 

 beauty. Comparisons are sometimes unwise, and 

 nothing is further from my mind than to wish to 

 indulge in them here (besides, I have not been to 

 New Zealand), but the thought came to me, why 

 should not South Africa, too, attract trout-fisher- 

 men oversea, in spite of Captain Donne and his 

 persuasive powers ? But I hasten to add that, 

 whilst sure of and secure in the claims of his 

 beloved New Zealand, he is the broadest-minded 

 of men, and he would not object. There are 

 plenty of anglers in the world. 



When a fly-fishing enthusiast can spare the 

 time and money for a long holiday, with the 

 advantage of a sea voyage, and decides to visit 

 South Africa, he has to remember that the seasons 

 there are the reverse of those in the United 

 Kingdom. For instance, instead of a Christmas 

 with folk bewrapped and befurred, he will find a 

 Christmas with a blue sky and people dressed in 

 summer attire for it is midsummer there. June 

 and July, on the other hand, mean winter in South 

 Africa, and, though it may not be generally 

 realized, it is then sharply cold last thing at night 

 and first thing in the morning in South Africa, 

 especially in Johannesburg, which is 5740 feet 

 above sea level. Rain falls in the Transvaal, 

 Orange Free State, and Natal in the summer ; it 

 is exceptional for it to occur in these Provinces 

 in the winter. On the other hand, rain falls in 

 some parts of the Cape Province in winter. 



