CHAPTER XII. 



THE TROUT SEASON, 1905. 



ALTHOUGH at the present day, more than ever before, 

 fishing in all its branches has an extensive literature 

 of its own, there is, perhaps, no subject that re- 

 quires more careful handling by an author anxious 

 to interest his readers than dry-fly practice in 

 general, and the sport obtained by his own rod in 

 particular, during the long trout season. Nor is it 

 easy to condense within reasonable limits any- 

 thing like full details of, and the actual incidents 

 connected with, his captures and also combine 

 references to the delightful environment in which 

 he is wont to pursue his fascinating art (the most 

 humane of all sports where killing is concerned), 

 and briefly to other matters, to embellish his descrip- 

 tions. But I have done my best in what follows, 

 and I hope the reader, all the better if he be an 

 expert himself, will in imagination follow me 

 through the verdant, flower-decked water meadows, 

 and share the pleasures of an angler's quest. 



Long weeks before the first of April, which is the 

 earliest date dry-fly sportsmen commence fishing in 



I 



