THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 67 



their course towards the sea, occasionally halting 

 in favourite spots. On reaching the brackish or 

 salt water, they stay for about a fortnight, in 

 which short space of time their growth is very 

 rapid. 



They are extremely voracious, and afford ex- 

 cellent diversion to the young angler, as he will 

 not unfrequently have a fish at every fly at the 

 same moment. Although they are a delicious 

 fish, a moment's reflection of the injury done to 

 the river, by the destruction of so many young 

 fry, which in a year or two would be so much 

 better worth taking, after having multiplied their 

 species in an extraordinary degree, ought to deter 

 the angler from continuing his sport, when he 

 finds a shoal of them. 



But the injury which is occasioned by the rod 

 and line is insignificant, when compared with the 

 wilful slaughter caused by mill weirs, where, in 

 one night, a cart load of these little fry may be 

 taken. The gentlemen through whose estates 

 the river winds ought to be particularly attentive 



