THE DRY-FLY SEASON 207 



of flies with its attendant excitement and activity, 

 a short or long blank spell, another hatch, and so 

 the variety and sequence may be kept up through- 

 out the day. This intermittent species of sport, 

 scarcity and plenty alternating, has an irresist- 

 ible fascination, and we know not what we enjoy 

 the most, the patient hopefulness, the strain on 

 every sense, or the crowded intervals of speedy 

 movement, quick decisions, and well-rewarded 

 energy. 



May 



With the advent of May the angler attains at 

 last to such contentment as can be his, envying 

 no man save him whose every day is a fishing day. 

 He is no longer seriously limited in his choice of 

 locality, and his sole and happy predicament 

 lies in the difficulty of making a selection that 

 will satisfy him. That of course is impossible ; 

 but one thing is certain viz., that he will set 

 forth on every possible occasion, for the merry 

 month is the period during which fish and fishers 

 alike are in their best humour. 



In the country the freshness of spring still pre- 

 vails ; early districts are still capable of yielding 

 abundance of sport, while the later streams and 

 lochs are quickly approaching, and within the 

 month will reach, the summit of their excellence. 

 Mountain lochs are an exception, but we think 

 meantime only of places of easy access, so many 

 in number that we can the more contentedly neglect 

 the remote solitudes until the long days of summer, 

 when we can take more complete advantage of 

 every opportunity presented of these pleasurable 



