Notes and Sport of a Dry-Fly Purist. 1 67 



tortuous channels with the main river) would seem 

 to prove that they have at last permanently settled 

 into residence. And it is even more encouraging to 

 know that the large broad shallows in the upper part 

 of the fishery are also well stocked with goodly 

 specimens of Salmo thy mall us t where they are almost 

 certain to stay, as they are in every way perfect 

 haunts for them. 



A day's winter grayling fishing on this water 

 having been offered to me (with the option of 

 choosing my own date), I was most fortunate 

 in waiting until December 7th, as it turned out 

 a typical day for the sport. Indeed, as to the 

 weather, it was rather a remarkable day for the 

 time of year, for from sunrise to sunset the 

 sun shone brightly without once clouding over, 

 but without sufficient warmth to melt the hoar frost 

 from the housetops and out-buildings until noon, 

 nor from the meadows and trees till later, and in 

 shady places not at all. The vane pointed north, but 

 there was not enough wind to veer it all day, and 

 the smoke from chimneys rose vertically, 'only curl- 

 ing as it was lost in thin air. Needless to say, it 

 was bitterly cold. I was, however, well prepared for 

 it, and a brisk walk along the river bank to the 

 starting point put the blood in quicker circulation, 

 and increased warmth. The river was perfectly 

 clear, smooth, and not overflowing its banks, so 



