THI: BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 109 



a drawn gut cast, with a fine wire round bend hook, on 

 which is impaled a lively red worm. The line is shotted, 

 and a small float used to prevent the worm touching the 

 bottom. It is thrown up-stream. The disappearance of 

 the float indicates when the worm is seized ; a smart, 

 quick strike generally fixes the hook, and the grayling is 

 then led to the landing net. 



Green Drake Fishing" occurs generally in the 

 month of May in several localities of the British Isles, and is 

 found in great perfection in the lakes and rivers of some of 

 the midland counties of Ireland. It is considered prime 

 sport, and numbers of anglers from all parts of the kingdom 

 flock to the favoured portions of the country to enjoy a week 

 or so at this style of fishing. If the weather is fine, the 

 season lasts about three weeks. The insects may be 

 gathered off the hedgerows at the sides of the river by 

 shaking or striking the bushes, when they fly out and 

 alight on the grass a few yards away. They are lifted 

 carefully by the wings and dropped into a box with a sliding 

 perforated lid, or a horn made suitable to contain them, which 

 allows of them being taken out singly when required to be 

 baited on the hook. The hook should be about a No. 4 or 5. 

 round bend, with a strong but slender shank, nicely armed 

 or tied on a casting line. The hook enters under the 

 thorax of the fly, and the barb is brought out at the little 

 dark spot found between the wings at the shoulders. This 

 baiting can be made more alluring by affixing another 

 green drake by the tail on the barb, which flutters on the 

 water, drawing the attention of the fish to its movements. 

 The rod should be light, stiff, and long, to allow the line to 

 carry out well with the wind, as the fly being tender it would 

 flick off if cast in the ordinary way. The trout taken by the 



