HASTY VISITS TO AMERICA 257 



downwards, and to work the fly slightly as it swings 

 round, or to cast down and work back. Three or two 

 flies are used. Minnow fishers are in a minority, and 

 fly-fishing is reckoned the correct method by the angler. 

 Dr. Henshall had had so many " records " that he 

 could not remember offhand his best with fly ; but 

 his heaviest bag and he did not confess it with any 

 pride was, spinning with the minnow, seventy black 

 bass, averaging 2 lb., in a day. The biggest fish are 

 in the lakes ; but a 4~lb. specimen is large anywhere, 

 save in the Gulf States, where all fish seem to reach 

 abnormal dimensions. June and July are the best 

 months for sport in these North-Western States ; 

 August, as in England, is a depressing month for the 

 angler ; but fishing becomes merry in September and 

 October, and is pursued with zest in the cool evenings, 

 at which time the gorgeous tints of the American fall 

 are deepening. Altogether the autumn fishing is the 

 most enjoyable ; for, while the conditions just indi- 

 cated are to be considered, the water has become 

 thoroughly settled, and there are no fears of flood and 

 disturbance. After spawning, the bass is quickly in 

 condition ; as a matter of fact, it is seldom out 

 of it. 



There was some rare fun one day with a brace of 

 alligators sent by express from Florida. They were 

 the patriarchs of a considerable consignment, and 

 arrived pretty miserable five days back in wooden boxes. 

 They were put into a lagoon in the open grounds. Then 

 we had bitter wintry gales with snow flurries, and a 

 blizzard which, had the season been earlier and the 

 ground frozen, would have given us a foot of snow. 

 Anyhow, it made the temperature of the lagoon a very 

 unsuitable figure for the alligators, and they had to be 

 looked promptly after. They were driven at length 



