FISHING IN AN EAST WIND, in 



occupied in digesting their last week's feast 

 of green and yellow " drakes." The wind 

 was easterly, but I was told that an easterly 

 wind was good for this stream. It has been 

 easterly ever since, and getting stronger and 

 colder on every visit. 



When I go a-fishing again I shall remem- 

 ber the good aspiration of our venerable 

 master, and trust that I may not have an 

 east wind ! It may be good for the fish, 

 but it certainly is not pleasant for the fisher- 

 man. Quite apart from our chance of catch- 

 ing fish, a strong, biting, easterly wind con- 

 siderably lessens the pleasure of being on 

 the banks of a charming river in the leafy 

 month of June. 



Generally, by the time the sun had dis- 

 appeared behind the distant hills, the wind 

 would subside to a gentle lullaby, and then 

 occasionally, and by earnest watching, we 

 might see here and yonder a solitary rise ; 

 but few and far between they were, and our 

 train left our station a mile off at nine 

 o'clock, so that our only hopes lay in that 

 precious half-hour between sun-down and 

 time to start for the train ! Then, when our 

 flagging spirits began to rise with these few 

 rising fish, down would come shoals of weeds 

 which had been cut in the upper meadows, 

 I 



