256 THE TROUT ARE RISING 



naturally the trout is preferred at the table, 

 because, in addition to the nourishing goodness 

 of his flesh, there is so little trouble over the 

 bones, once the backbone is removed. Fried or 

 boiled, trout are a delicacy. At one house on the 

 Bushman's river I found a course of trout, boned 

 and rolled, and then baked, which was a positive 

 feast. 



Though there are always incidental differences, 

 of course, yet one day's fly-fishing on a river like 

 the Mooi, when it is in normal condition, is much 

 like another. No great records were aimed at, 

 and at intervals a day was not spent at the river 

 at all, or only an hour or so might be put in. 

 The total bag, therefore, was modest, a period of 

 nearly a month yielding fifty-two trout. The 

 number was small, but the average weight was 

 about half a pound, and anyhow the bag included 

 delightful additions in the shape of health and 

 happiness. 



One day was red-lettered. The bag totalled 

 a baker's dozen, and twice there was a double 

 event, that is to say, two trout on the cast at once, 

 one on each of the two flies in use. The first 

 time, when the duet was just about to be con- 

 cluded, and indeed when one trout was already in 

 the net, the other trout gave a long pull and a 

 strong pull and got its mate out of the net. 

 Eventually one of them got off, the other one 

 (the smaller) being finally netted. On the other 

 occasion both trout were secured, and one was a 

 good pounder. Experience by the earlier adven- 



