JUNE 75 



ventures over the water. The female, on the other 

 hand, goes through the metamorphosis on the water, 

 rising to the surface and, splitting along the back, 

 emerges as a winged insect floating on a raft formed by 

 its larval shell, until its wings are dry, when it flutters 

 off towards the shore. Here she meets the male insect, 

 and after becoming the perfect insect known as the Grey 

 Drake, she returns to the river to lay her eggs, and then 

 floats away down stream with outspread wings as the 

 Spent Gnat. It is while undergoing the first change 

 that the female is most freely taken by fish, while even 

 birds of all kinds devour the Mayfly by hundreds. 

 The Southern fly-fisher then enjoys his best sport, using 

 his various imitations of fur and feather so well known 

 to all anglers. Each angler has his pet fly, and most 

 their pet theories. Dark wings and light, detached 

 bodies and semi-detached, hackles cut and uncut, and a 

 dozen other modifications all have their advocates and 

 detractors. 



One gentleman with whom the author is acquainted 

 has a pet theory about hooks, and has his flies all tied 

 on size. As he very sensibly says: " If you can hook 

 big trout on small irons with small flies, why not try the 

 same with the big-winged flies, seeing that most of the 

 size is in the wing ? " However, space does not allow of 

 any full discussion of the subjects broached ; suffice it 

 to say that the whole question reminds one forcibly of 

 the old line, " Who shall decide when doctorsdisagree ? " 



Amongst all the angling festivals of the year the May- 

 fly Carnival stands chief ; the balmy air, laden with the 

 scent of meadow flowers, and the glancing stream wind- 

 ing its way through the water meadows, its surface here 

 and there covered with ranunculus, alternate with bril- 

 liant green ribbons of flowing weed, under whose shadow 

 lie the great lazy leviathans of our Southern rivers, are 

 engraven on our minds, and the memories leave therein 

 a supreme sense of pleasures enjoyed. At this time, 

 and at this alone, the monsters of the stream give the 

 fly fisher an opportunity to try conclusions with them. 

 " The duffer's holiday " and why not ? Why should 



