122 WADING. 



freedom, and the second after a hustling run 

 along the surface of a dozen yards. 



I have never been lucky at peal on this river, 

 as August is really the best month; my largest 

 being only i Ib. 12 oz., with few adventures of 

 anything over that weight. The heaviest fish 

 I have seen was four pounds and a quarter, 

 hooked and played on trout tackle and a light 

 Hardy rod at half past ten, after a desperately 

 exciting struggle with a landing net licensed to 

 carry sixteen ounces inside. 



On this particular evening the free water was 

 at its best; but it must be understood that this 

 word is used in relation with a very poor 

 standard a standard so poor, that evening after 

 evening we had to be content with either 

 touching a peal, or bringing home a trout of 

 eight ounces, or even of eight inches. 



The most barefaced netting had always been 

 resorted to, beginning at day break on the 

 second of February, when some hundreds of 

 forlorn little trout were hauled out by the local 

 fishermen ; followed by periodical visits after 

 larger trout or peal on summer nights. Under 

 such circumstances the rod has a miserable 

 chance, and accordingly a two mile stretch of 

 perfect water is rendered almost useless. No 

 one but an enthusiast would go and we 

 belonged to that genus. 



As however it is the only part of the river 

 where no restriction is made as to wading, the 

 pleasure of getting into the cool water after a 

 sweltering July day, and of thus exploring 



