EXCELLENT SPORT. 1^1 



the last day, were absolutely little else than bare 

 hooks, so completely had they been worked away 

 by the fish. 



6 On one of the days I basketed 47, the best days 

 sport I ever had, as they were all of a fair size. As 

 for the shett grayling, on some days a person might 

 kill as many as he could carry. I remember very 

 well fishing one afternoon at Oakley Park, with a 

 young friend, and, after throwing in an immense 

 number, we agreed to count what we caught, 

 and on comparing notes, he had thrown in ninety- 

 seven and I ninety-two, besides about a score each 

 which we had in our baskets. And out of the whole 

 number only two were half a pound in weight. 



6 During the whole of August, and up to the 

 middle of September in this summer, the weather 

 was so sultry and the water so low and fine, that 

 all our country anglers fancied it was useless to 

 attempt to kill fish. The consequence was I had 

 the river very much to myself; and by using 

 very fine tackle, and wading under bushes where 

 the fish had probably never even seen an arti- 

 ficial fly, I had capital sport, seldom failing to fill 

 my basket, which holds, as I have stated, about 

 17 Ib. offish. I usually fished with three flies, the 

 red-ant, fern, and orange tag-tail ; and I will ven- 

 ture to back them during these two months against 

 all the combinations of feather, fur, and silk, ever 

 put together. Later in the season succeed the 



