24 SALMON1A. [SECOND DAT. 



be an end to the sport in the river, for none would 

 remain for next year. 



PHYS. The nnmber of flies seems to increase as 

 the day advances, and I never saw a more animated 

 water scene : all nature seems alive ; even the water- 

 wagtails have joined the attack upon these helpless 

 and lovely creations from the waters. 



HAL. It is now one o' clock ; and between twelve 

 and three is the time when the May -fly rises with 

 most vigour. It is a very warm day, and with such 

 a quantity of fly, every fish in the river will probably 

 be soon feeding. See, below the wear, there are two 

 large trout lately come out ; and from the quiet way 

 in which they swallow their prey, and from the size 

 of the tranquil undulation that follows their rise, I 

 suspect they are the giants of this river. Try if you 

 cannot reach them : one is near the bank in a con- 

 venient place for a throw, for the water is sufficiently 

 rough to hide the deception, and these large fish do 

 not take the fly well in calm water, though with 

 natural flies on the hook they might all be raised. 



POIET. I have him ! Alas ! he has broken me, 

 and carried away half my bottom line. He must have 

 been a fish of 7 or 81bs. "What a dash he made ! 

 He carried off my fly by main force. 



HAL. You should have allowed your reel to play 

 and your line to run : you held him too tight. 



