48 SALMONIA. [SECOND DAY. 



in June and July, are seized with avidity by the fish, 

 and, being large flies, take large fish. 



ORN. Surely the May-fly season is not the only 

 season for day-fishing in this river ? 



HAL. Certainly not. There are as many fish to 

 be taken perhaps in the Spring fishing ! but in this 

 deep river they are seldom in good season till the 

 May-fly has been on, and a fortnight hence they will 

 be still better than even now. In September there 

 may be good fish taken here ; but the autumnal flies 

 are less plentiful in this river than the Spring flies. 



PHYS. Pray tell me what are the species of fly 

 which take in these two seasons ? 



HAL. You know that trout spawn or deposit their 

 ova in the end of the autumn or beginning of winter, 

 from the middle of November till the beginning of 

 January, their maturity depending upon the tempe- 

 rature of the season, their quantity of food, &c. For 

 some time (a month or six weeks) before they are 

 prepared for the sexual function, or that of re-produc- 

 tion, they become less fat, particularly the females; 

 the large quantity of eggs and their size probably 

 affecting the health of the animal, and compressing 

 generally the vital organs in the abdomen. They are 

 at least six weeks or two months after they have 

 spawned before they recover their flesh ; and the time 

 when these fish are at the worst is likewise the worst 



