150 ' T^'otit Flies, 



disposal. We only fished for about four hours. In 

 the earlier part of the day the May fly was strong 

 on the water, and we took some good fish. Later 

 I put on a Hofland, and got two brace, the fish 

 not looking at the artificial Green Drake. I had 

 an amusing incident. I had seen a great big 

 fellow rise close to the bank, and, after a cast 

 or two, was successful in letting the fly drop 

 just before his nose. He rose savagely, and I had 

 him ; but he was down in a moment, and I could 

 not make out what had happened. Shortened line, 

 and went up ; found my line extending into a great 

 rat-hole in the bank just under the surface. On 

 feeling I found my friend was still on ; so I took off" 

 my coat, and got into the water, enlarged the hole 

 so as to get my hand in easy, and nearly the whole 

 of my arm. I could just reach his tail, but he 

 would not budge an inch. I tried to poke him out 

 with a stick. Nothing would do, so I was obliged, 

 after all, to break my line, and leave him to fight 

 another fight some other day. 



One more illustration of fishing with the drowned 

 May fly. Some years ago I was fishing on the 

 Test, at Broadlands. When I arrived, I found 

 the two keepers hard at work with the cross-lines, 

 with I won't say how many natural flies bobbing 

 across the water, just in front of the house. Bad 

 look-out for me, I thought. However, I went above 



