14 ROD AND RIVER 



to recuperate their strength. Anyone who has 

 fished on a river on which there is mayfly, must 

 have noticed how very great a difference there is 

 in the condition and fighting powers of the trout, 

 before the mayfly season has commenced, and a 

 few days after a good ' rise ' has been on. 



The Legislature permits trout to be taken until 

 the end of September, but I am most strongly of 

 opinion that the season should, in most rivers, 

 terminate by the I4th of that month ; for, unless 

 it becomes necessary to thin down an overstocked 

 stream, it is a pity to take fish when they are 

 growing heavy with spawn. Where the stock is 

 excessive, the privilege of the extra fortnight 

 might, on proper representation, be accorded. 

 The year before last I noticed the trout on the 

 beds, or I should say about them, quite early in 

 September, and so I put away my rod. A 

 season abridged as I have suggested would, it is 

 true, allow but a very few months for the fisher- 

 man, and so my suggestion is one which would 

 scarcely meet with general approbation, for, as 

 all fishermen are aware, there are not many 

 days during the entire season which may be 

 termed really good fishing days. It is either too 

 hot or too cold, rain is threatening or thunder is 

 hanging about ; nine days out of ten nay, 

 nineteen out of twenty are by no means all that 

 the fisherman could desire ; and then, on the one 



