CREEPER-FISHING. 1 65 



May-fly in its embryo state, and a very deadly bait 

 it is. 



Creepers are to be found in the rivers all winter, 

 but it is not till April that they merit the attention 

 of the angler. They then vary in length from three- 

 quarters to an inch and a quarter, are covered with 

 a thin brown shell mottled yellow and black, have 

 numerous legs, and are upon the whole the most 

 venomous-looking insects that the angler in pursuit 

 of his vocation encounters. They are to be found 

 plentifully about the shallow parts of the water 

 under stones, but run so quickly, that it requires 

 some dexterity to catch them, as, unless the water 

 is quite still, it is difficult to see them distinctly. 

 About the middle of May, the time varying accord- 

 ing to the season, the creeper leaves the water, 

 where it has hitherto had its dwelling, and crawls 

 on the dry stones, where it casts its shell, and 

 assumes the winged state. The cast-off shells may 

 be seen on the dry channel in great numbers ; and 

 by turning over the stones in such places, the flies 

 may be had in abundance. The full-grown flies 

 are generally about an inch long, and have large 

 wings, which lie flat on the back, but seem of little 

 use, as they invariably trust to their legs for safety. 

 They are of a brownish colour, with a yellow tinge 

 on the belly, and the wings are veined and almost 

 transparent. 



Whether the angler intends using the creeper 

 or the fly, he should collect a sufficient number the 



