152 THE BRITISH ANGLER'S LEXICON. 



mutilate it and render it useless. Some anglers put two on 

 the hook, and some three. The beginning of June is the 

 best time for stone fly fishing, about a week after the flies 



MAY FLY BOX. 



have appeared. Should a small flood occur, the trout will 

 attack them greedily ; but a heavy flood will carry the flies 

 off, and put an end to this particular sport for the season. 



Milt is the seminal fluid of the male fish, which is 

 ejected at the spawning season on to the eggs of the female 

 and enters the small opening of the eggs and fecundates 

 them. It is very essential that the milt is what is called 

 "ripe." This may be known by the tendency it has to 

 spurt out. It should neither be thin, watery, nor very 

 thick. Of course these features are only observed when the 

 impregnation is artificial, as when the natural spawning 

 takes place it is conclusive that both male and female fish 

 are in proper condition for carrying out the process. 



Minnow (Leuciscus phoxinus) is a small fish of the 

 genus of roach, dace, &c , and to be found in most of the 

 clear gravelly streams of England. It swims in shoals, and 

 rarely exceeds three inches in length. Colour : A dusky 

 olive-green, sometimes blue on the back, shading into 

 white and sometimes a pinky white on the belly. In 



