101 



Knockliolt lulls, and tlie trout lisiug madly, was delightful. 

 AVeaiy and disgusted with the May-fly, I mounted a 

 ' governoi" — a counteiieit of the small bee — which has 

 always proved, in my hands, a deadly evening fly on the 

 Darenth. And the "governor" well sustained his reputa- 

 tion upon this occasion. Commencing with a trout of a 

 pound, others of better quality followed quickly, and the 

 sport became fast and furious. Finally, at nine o'clock, 

 when I finished up, the score stood at five and a-half brace, 

 ■R-ith five fish going over 21bs. each. This grand basket 

 was the more appreciated because it came so unexpectedly. 

 I firmly believe that if I had never used a May-fly this 

 season, I should have killed far more trout than have fallen 

 to my lot. But those three hours of evening fishing make 

 amends for many bad May-fly days, and help to neutralise 

 the otherwise bad reputation of the spring trouting this 

 season. 



Summer as ccme upon us at last, and with a rise in the 

 temperature and the reappearance of the sun, the prospects 

 of the trout fishermen have improved ; for, hitherto, the low 

 temperature has held all insect life in check, and the cold 

 nights have killed what few of the beautiful water-flies of 

 the delicate "Ephemera" family that were hatched out 

 during the daj. This has rendered trout fishing very 

 unremunercitive to those disciples of the art who disdain to 

 use any other lure than an artificial fly, so cunningly 

 wrought in imitation of the natural insect, that when deftly 

 cast up-stream, with a gossamer gut line, the treacherous 

 semblance would deceive the wariest trout that ever chalk- 

 stream produced. In spite of all the adverse circumstances 

 of mnd and weather — not forgetting to mention rain — ^I 

 have patiently plied my craft every week since the season 

 opened ; but not until the last Wednesday of May was it 

 possible to say 



Wandering by the streams apart, 

 Glad and calm as tlier ; 



Plying still my simple art 

 All the live-long day ; 



Seeking out the shadiest nooks 

 Of the binding Kentish brooks, 



