ON MINNOW AND PARR-TAIL FISHING. 



wrong, and inconsiderate. Holding such views, and 

 recommending the same to every honest and high- 

 minded angler, I exclude, in accordance with them, 

 from my trouting calendar, that portion of the year 

 preceding the 15th April, and also the months follow- 

 ing August, during which interval the fario or common 

 trout, with a few exceptions, is out of condition, and 

 unfit to be used as human food. Angling with the 

 minnow, then, being thus limited, along with the other 

 branches of trout-fishing, in point of season, it is only 

 proper for the craftsman to take every advantage which 

 weather and the state of the rivers afford, to pursue his 

 amusement. This may be done, either, as I have 

 already remarked, when the water after a heavy flood 

 has begun to subside, and is verging upon a dark 

 porter colour, or when it is clear and small, under a 

 bright sun. Also, during warm, summer nights, the 

 minnow, as well as the fly and lob-worm, is a sure and 

 deadly bait, enticing to large trout which have their 

 haunts throughout the day, in deep, still water. On 

 such occasions, too, the parr-tail will be found ^effective, 

 but of this bait the true season is what on Tweedside 

 is known as the smolt period, viz., those weeks of the 

 year in which the parr, having assumed its silver coat- 

 ing, makes descent, in numerous shoals, towards the 

 salt-water. Then it is, that all the large trout of our 

 salmon rivers are out and on the watch, marking with 

 cunning eye the bands as they pass them, if so be they 

 can detect a wounded, worn-out, or incautious strag- 

 gler ; for on such it is, not on the healthy and alert 

 pilgrims, they generally expend their vigour. The 

 usual period for such emigrations is the latter week of 

 April and first fortnight of May; but frequently they 

 commence sooner and terminate, as in an occurrence of 



