THE MAYFLY 123 



weather, of course, having a marked influence. 

 If, as not infrequently happens, a cold, dull day 

 intervenes, there may be scarcely any rise at all 

 worth speaking of. Again, it may be observed, 

 the times of the rise grow somewhat later day by 

 day. 



A perfect summer day will suffice to bring the 

 mayfly out in full force. Of course, a succession 

 of such days necessarily shortens the mayfly period, 

 for inasmuch as there must be a limit to the 

 number of flies waiting to be hatched out, the 

 more favourable the weather the more rapid the 

 process will be. 



The fly rarely remains on the water longer 

 than a fortnight or three weeks. There are, of 

 course, exceptions to this, as to everything else, 

 and some three or four years ago, when I was 

 fishing in Hampshire, the fly lasted for a whole 

 month. 



I would caution those of my readers who may 

 not have had experience of mayfly fishing not 

 to be too sanguine regarding their anticipations 

 of the sport they may obtain. In those districts 

 where the mayfly prevails, every fisherman looks 

 eagerly forward to its approach, and great are 

 the preparations made annually. 



Too often, alas ! are their hopes frustrated by 

 reason of unsuitable weather. It is a time of 

 year when, despite the bright sunshine, easterly 



