70 THE FLY FISHER'S GUIDE. 



where gravel, or sand mixed with small stones, 

 abounds, in which they root a bed for this de- 

 posit. This being effected, they appear quite 

 exhausted, and wasting away, become soft and 

 lean. In this state they are attacked by a worm, 

 vulgarly called the water louse, which they have 

 not strength to rid themselves of, until reinvigo- 

 rated by the genial warmth of the sun's rays, on 

 the approach of spring, when they quit the still 

 deep water, where they have remained inactive 

 during the winter months, and revisit the strong 

 streams, the force of which soon frees them from 

 this disagreeable insect; which being accom- 

 plished, they speedily regain their activity and 

 vigour, and in the month of May are in high 

 season. 



The favourite haunts in which the trout de- 

 lights, and where the angler is most likely to 

 meet with diversion, are, the junction of two 

 streams the tails of currents below bridges 

 near old weirs or pieces of rock where the roots 

 ot trees are exposed by the bank having fallen 



