JUNE 77 



and get our pet pattern mayflies in readiness. A 

 short account of three days of sport will give a better 

 idea than any description devoted to tackle and methods 

 can possibly convey. These days are not chosen as 

 anything more than fair representations of actual days 

 enjoyed. The memories of marvellous bits of sport 

 recur to one's mind, but the notes giving the correct 

 data have been mislaid. Thus in one half-hour on an 

 otherwise blank day, the writer once took from under a 

 length of camp shedding extending about 25 yards, four 

 trout between 2J and l|lbs. apiece, having been broken 

 up at the first cast by a much larger fish owing to 

 having no landing net. 



ON THE LAMBOURN, JUNE STH, 7TH, AND STH, 1897. 



" THE Fly is up," says our telegram, and therefore, 

 throwing business to the winds, again we go to our old 

 water, to engage in that most fascinating of pursuits, 

 described by Cotton " the second way of angling at the 

 top, which is with an artificial fly." We arrive at our 

 inn about eight in the evening, and fifteen minutes sees 

 us upon the water. We perceive that, though prompt, 

 we are not the first arrivals In the garden, past which 

 flows our stream, crouched behind a gooseberry bush, 

 one veteran is posted, just about to make a cast over 

 " that big one, sir, that broke me last year," while 

 further up the river a novice may be observed occupying 

 a prominent position on the extreme edge of the bank, 

 silhouetted against the darkening sky, and casting 

 frantically a long line in coils ; he serves, no doubt, as a 

 danger signal, which will be pointed out by the old 

 grandfather farios to the young unwary troutlings. I 

 am not a great believer in the value of books in the 

 learning of our sport, but nevertheless can scarce for- 

 bear to steal up to our friend and whisper the words of 

 our only fishing classic : " You have length enough ; stand 

 a little further off, let me entreat you, and do but fish 

 the stream like an artist, and peradventure a good fish 

 may fall to your share." 



