THE HABITS AND HAUNTS OF FISH. 21 



fish in the immediate vicinity takes possession of the 

 vacated post. These fish will often fight desperately for 

 a favorable situation, hence it is that the larger tenants oc- 

 cupy the best positions. Near circulating eddies, behind 

 large stones, in side and mid-stream, below jutting por- 

 tions of banks, etc., ever near the main volume of water, 

 and the perpetuated line of bubbles wherever it may 

 tend, the trout lie assiduously observant of passing ob- 

 jects, whether in or on the top of the water. 



When a quantity of flies are "up" in rapid water, the 

 fish poise themselves near the surface, the more readily 

 to close upon their winged prey; but, upon the other 

 hand, when no surface food is presented to their view, 

 they are quick to seize adventurous fry of their own or 

 any other species, without distinction. In the latter 

 half of May their attention is generally attracted and 

 absorbed by the then active grub or pupa of the May- 

 fly or drake; and as these nymphse are, generally speak- 

 ing, numerous in the waters frequented by trout, the fish 

 are seldom found rising at this particular period. In 

 about a week or ten days from the first signs of activity, 

 the pupse referred to vacate their cases and rise to the 

 water's surface, when, after emerging from yet another 

 skin, they appear in their sub-imago state as green drakes. 

 The fish, not comprehending the change, continue to 

 feed upon the undeveloped worm for a few days, until 

 the now profusely laden surface allures them from the 

 river's bed, and monopolizes their whole attention during 

 the stay of the May-fly, which usually continues from 

 seventeen to twenty days. By the time the season of. the 

 drake terminates, the fish have so regaled themselves 

 upon this lusty ephemeral, that for a week or so they 

 find it incumbent upon them to retire to the deep still 

 water, to doze off the effect of the excess. After this 

 they again resort to thair accustomed posts, which are 

 not forsaken until the spawning season again comes 



