WINCHESTER 109 



During those early days of the season hardly 

 any other anglers were out, and I saw nothing 

 hooked ; but as time went on, one or two local 

 anglers, who understood the Winchester trout, 

 began to fish, and by watching them and asking 

 a few questions I came to understand their 

 method. Some flies were then bought from 

 Hammond, who was in those days the great 

 authority upon the Itchen ; they were not tied 

 with a divided wing, as is the rule now, but it 

 was possible to make them float, especially the 

 hare's ears, and it was with one of Hammond's 

 flies that I had my first success. This was a 

 long time in coming, for it was not till June 

 that I caught a trout of reasonable size, and that 

 was the only one I caught during my first season. 

 I can see the place and the rise of that trout 

 now, and recall the anxiety and excitement after 

 it was hooked ! It was indeed a morning never 

 to be forgotten : all the deferred hope, all the 

 keenness of many weeks, found satisfaction 

 and reward in a moment, the great gulf between 

 failure and success was passed, and I stood on the 

 right side. I had seen now how the thing could 

 happen, and I was sure it would happen again. 



