ON THE LUGG IN THE HILLS 83 



that fine trout up stream and into my basket, 

 and I was glad, for hitherto I had done nothing 

 to boast of. To sum up, the total result of this 

 day's work of the four of us for it is invidious 

 to particularize we had nineteen and a half 

 brace, all fine trout; some of us thought we 

 ought to have done better, but in a bright sun- 

 shine, wind north-east, May Fly, as we thought 

 over, we had not much to complain of. I may 

 say that nearly all were taken by the May Fly 

 imitation and the Spent Gnat. Some I think 

 were taken by the Alder. 



The May Fly has behaved in a curious way 

 on this river. One day before we went there it 

 was up in abundance, and two rods took nine- 

 teen and a half brace, exactly the same number 

 as our four had taken. The day we were there 

 it could hardly be seen at all. Then, the Wed- 

 nesday following our visit the May Fly was up 

 again, and our friend got a large basket in an 

 hour's evening fishing. As a matter of fact, we 

 have hardly known, indeed we hardly know yet, 

 whether in a particular district the May Fly 

 has been up and done for, or whether the oc- 

 casional insect one sees fluttering on the water 

 is the precursor of a rise yet to come. 



Tuesday, June 6th. A Contrast. Sunday 

 and Monday were ideal June days, such as the 

 poets write of. Tuesday was the reverse of all 

 this. The night of Monday was frosty. This 



