WEEDING OUT VORACIOUS FISH. 237 



escape us as the scene is prolonged. Now, however, 

 ,our captive's spirit is broken, his golden broadside 

 lies athwart the silvery stream ; and as he is " limp as 

 a log," you slowly tug him ashore. " Don't present 

 arms with that net, but keep it out of sight until his 

 tail end can be got at first. Capital ! There ! Safe 

 at last, a three-and-a-half pounder if an ounce ; small 

 danger of your eclipsing this if you fish for a week. 

 But now is the prime time of the- whole season, the 

 fish are all out and feeding, therefore it is the time for 

 the angler to weed out heavy fish, whose cannibal pro- 

 pensities are exemplified the more weekly, monthly, 

 and yearly, until the water near their haunt is entirely 

 depopulated. Let us see how's the enemy ? 2.15 p.m. 

 You will extract a heavy pannier before dinner, if you - 

 labour against time ; though the fun may furiously 

 thicken, don't retain more than your fill." 



Personally speaking we make a practice of drawing 

 the line at the lid of the creel, all conquests afterwards 

 being relinquished as soon as effected. This rule, 

 humane reader, we would commend to your accept- 

 ance, in all exceptionally favourable circumstances, 

 whenever practicable. 



Should the weather prove fine, and favoured with 

 warm sun, the flies will appear a few days earlier in 

 each locality, but will terminate a week or so before 

 their wonted time, The genial weather and warm 

 temperature of the water admit of their attaining 

 maturity almost simultaneously; and in these circum- 

 stances, it naturally follows that their stay will be 

 -nore limited. Chub are bold risers at the May fly, 



