MAY-FLY FISHING 153 



of the angler. They then vary in length from three- 

 quarters to an inch and a quarter, are covered with 

 a thin brown shell mottled yellow and black, have 

 numerous legs, and are upon the whole the most 

 venomous-looking insects that the angler in pursuit 

 of his vocation encounters. They are to be found 

 plentifully about the shallow parts of the water 

 under stones, but run so quickly that it requires 

 some dexterity to catch them, as, unless the water 

 is quite still, it is difficult to see them distinctly. 

 About the middle of May, the time varying accord- 

 ing to the season, the creeper leaves the water, 

 where it has hitherto had its dwelling, and crawls 

 on the dry stones, where it casts its shell and 

 assumes the winged state. The cast- off shells may 

 be seen on the dry channel in great numbers ; and by 

 turning over the stones in such places, the flies may 

 be had in abundance. The full-grown flies are 

 generally about an inch long, and have large wings, 

 which lie flat on the back, but seem of little use, as 

 they invariably trust to their legs for safety. They 

 are of a brownish colour, with a yellow tinge on the 

 belly, and the wings are veined and almost trans- 

 parent. 



Whether the angler intends using the creeper or 

 the fly, he should collect a sufficient number the 

 night before he expects to use them. They are 

 better newly gathered; but when the angler is 

 fishing, unless he has an attendant, the gathering of 

 them consumes much valuable time. The most 

 convenient method of taking them to the water-side 



