86 Dry-Fly Fishing. 



the sport obtained in the three or four days while 

 covering the seven miles of the winding course of 

 the fishery which will serve as examples of many 

 other days. 



By 9 o'clock a.m. I stood close to the Wye stone 

 bridge of two arches, through one of which the mill 

 stream passes, and the main stream through the other, 

 both mingling beyond. The water was so low that 

 in a few places the river bed was exposed and dry, 

 and therefore to place a dry-fly accurately over the 

 narrowed channels between was extremely difficult, 

 but trout were dimpling the surfaces as they rose to 

 take in dark -winged Ephemeridse. My ten-foot green- 

 heart rod, weighing only seven ounces, was soon put 

 together and rigged up with a light, pliably-dressed 

 running-line, fine gut collar, and a small olive quill 

 artificial fly ; forth it was repeatedly thrown over 

 the nearest fish, and at last, when it floated without 

 a drag, he seized it, and after fighting gamely for a 

 minute was brought to net. Another quickly shared 

 the same fate. The first captures from a strange 

 river are always exulted over and examined with 

 special interest. This brace was perfect in every 

 way, bright as silver with a sheen of gold, short, 

 thick, and well spotted ; and, as I found out during 

 my progress, of an average size for the Wye ; but 

 after my sport elsewhere in May, June, and July, 

 when I killed thirty-six brace scaling 1081b. lloz., 



