THE MAYFLY. 33 



lower limbs, and sharpen your appetite, you could pitch 

 upon nothing better than a long day by the waterside in 

 the Mayfly season. 



PRACTICAL NOTES ON MAY FISHING. 



Leaving out of the question the various sections of the 

 salmon tribe which, with the exception of the grayling, are 

 now in eager request, and the tench spoken of in the pre- 

 vious chapter, our fresh water fishes are, or should be, 

 protected by the fence laws during May. Nothing is more 

 difficult than to lay down fixed dates for the spawning of 

 fish. So much depends upon the forwardness or otherwise 

 of the season, and upon the peculiarities of different 

 rivers, that the best authorities often differ upon the point 

 April and May, if not June, may, however, be safely 

 regarded as closed months for all fish but those 'just men- 

 tioned. 



This law is recognised by all properly organised Riparian 

 authorities. In a forward season perch may possibly be 

 fitting prey for the angler towards the end of May, and in 

 our country districts, where each man doeth what seemeth 

 him right in his own eyes, the merry month generally tempts 

 the fisherman forth to open the campaign somewhat earlier 

 than, according to the strict rules of the game, he should 

 do. 



As an example of the diversity of opinion amongst pisca- 

 torial Gamaliels take the following : Walton did not com- 

 mit himself to any particular time for the spawning of the 

 perch, contenting himself with the very truthful remark that 

 the fish will bite all the year round, but he hinted pretty 



