150 HAMPSHIRE WATER MEADOWS. 



but he rushed at it was struck, and was on; a 

 good trout. After some really violent behaviour 

 he was landed and laid on the path (i Ib. 7 

 ounces). On coming back to the rushes, or 

 rather into the rushes, I could see as many 

 as a dozen fish mostly out of reach rising in 

 all directions but, being in a foot of water, I 

 was so low down that it was difficult or impos- 

 sible to get out a long line. Each rise that 

 was covered was taken instantly and apparently 

 rejected the very next second. Two more I 

 lost, one small, the other a heavy fish. Then 

 I landed one of just over a pound, lost another 

 and caught the next a pound and a quarter. 



All this half hour the rain was having its 

 final patter, just blurring the surface sufficiently, 

 while the sun was doing its best to cast a 

 shadow. It certainly seemed the most ideal 

 evening to come out. The only drawback in 

 my personal case was soaking wet clothing. 

 No other angler reappeared or it would have 

 interested me to know whether the trout were 

 rising in other parts of the river in the same 

 frantic manner. 



