A LITTLE CHALK STREAM 53 



And the murder (it might almost be called that) was 

 out. A child's toy boat lay waterlogged and 

 derelict on the river bed. Its lines were not at all 

 unlike those of broad-backed trout, and a straggle 

 of weed made a very passable tail. It was immedi- 

 ately evident that precious evenings had been wasted 

 and there was a sudden transference of affection 

 from the upper to the lower water, where men were 

 not mocked by simulacra. 



For beauty the lower water could not compare 

 with the upper, being almost destitute of trees, and 

 open to sun and wind. But for interest it might 

 be held superior. The main stream is somewhat 

 swifter, rather deeper, a little narrower. Its fish 

 are, maybe, an ounce or two heavier as a rule and 

 perhaps rather better fed. One remarkable trout, 

 caught almost at the boundary, weighed a pound 

 though it was only twelve inches long, an exception- 

 ally deep, fat fish. 



To me, however, the interest of the lower water 

 lay not only in the main stream. Here the meadows 

 are kept pretty constantly irrigated, " under water " 

 as it is somewhat largely termed, and the result is 

 that there are many carriers and side streams cris- 

 crossed about. In most of these you may find trout, 

 often, too, bigger trout than are commonly caught in 

 the river itself. The older fish of all chalk streams 

 seem to have a tendency to wander into the irriga- 



