TROUT-FISHING 



In the records of the Houghton Fishing Club above referred to there is 

 apparent a remarkable alteration of periods of dearth and abundance 

 both of mayfly and grannom in the Stockbridge water of the Test. 



Thus, while in 1848, mayfly is described as *' plentiful," in the following 

 year the scarcity is referred to as " such as has been seldom witnessed, 

 and is not wished for again." This was the beginning of a few lean 

 seasons; it is noted on June 11, 1853, that "the fly is quite over, if that 

 can be said to be over which has hardly appeared at all," but on the same 

 date in 1855 (after the Crimean winter) mayfly are recorded as rising 

 "abundantly." Another contrast is shown between the year 1882 when, 

 on June 6, Colonel Seymour Corkran killed eight trout, weighing 19^ lb. 

 (heaviest 5 lb. 9 oz.), " blowing " natural mayfly, and the year 1908 when, 

 for the first time in the annals of the Club, not a single fish was taken on 

 the mayfly owing to nearly a complete absence of the insect.* 



As to the advantage of having this beautiful ephemerid in a trout stream, 

 anglers are not unanimous. Probably the position is this — ^those who have 

 it in their waters would be sorry to lose it; those who have not got it are 

 quite content to do without it. The fact is that, although the stimulating 

 and abundant food provided by this insect increases the average weight 

 of trout, and tempts to the surface large fish which never come there 

 except when the mayfly is on, rendering the sport very exciting while it 

 lasts, the rise seldom extends over a fortnight, and is followed by weeks 

 of languor and repletion during which trout can hardly be induced to 

 look at any fly. It would be surprising if they could, by reason of the pro- 

 digious quantity of this stimulating diet that they have consumed. Some 

 years ago Mr Holland Hibbert of Munden landed with the mayfly in a single 

 day 85 trout, weighing 120 lb., from the Gade at Cassiobury. Probably 

 no one else has equalled this weight of British trout in a day's fly-fishing. 

 He examined the contents of the stomach of one of these trout — a two- 

 pounder, and found therein no fewer than 980 mayflies, entire or partially 

 digested. To allow half this total as the average consumption of these 

 85 trout brings out the astonishing total of 41,650 mayflies, which, one 

 should think, is a smart tax even upon Nature's prodigality, preparing 

 the majrfly as she does for two or three days of aerial existence by as 

 many years' immurement of the larvae in river mud. 



Quite apart from its effect upon the fishing, the mayfly carnival is a 

 season of delight for every lover of country sights and sounds. The 



'The total b»i for that aeason wat 829 trout, weighing 1,622} lb.; and 34 grayling, weighing 65i lb. 

 R 121 



